The Rise and Fall of Detroit in 60 seconds

In early 20th century, a lot of people moved to Detroit because Henry Ford and the automotive industry in general were offering high paying jobs that did not require an education. This allowed poor unskilled people to enter the middle class. Over the course of decades and generations, a lot of wealth was generated, but at the same time, there was a lot of corruption within local government as well as racial tension. Eventually, there was a large riot. For these reasons, and others, many people who had the means to do so moved to the suburbs where they could enjoy a larger home with a yard and garage. The people that left were a significant amount of the tax base of Detroit. Public services and education were underfunded, which led to a vicious cycle whereby more people left and there was further unfunded services. I should mention the crack epidemic, gang violence, NAFTA, and government corruption all played a role in Detroit’s deterioration, and the current situation the city finds itself in.