The Rise and Controversies of Suburbia: From Post-War Haven to Levittown's Exclusionary Practices

The Rise of Suburbia: A Post-War Haven

In the aftermath of two devastating world wars and the looming threat of nuclear conflict, American families sought stability and refuge within the suburban home. Suburban developments lured buyers with promises of verdant open spaces and a sense of peace unattainable in urban environments. Historian Kenneth Jackson described the post-World War II single-family tract house as a"private haven in a heartless world" despite its aesthetic shortcomings.

The Construction of Levittown

However, not all Americans could access this suburban tranquility. A severe housing shortage, fueled by the baby boomer generation and plummeting construction, left many families struggling for shelter. The Levittowns in Long Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania emerged as a solution to this crisis.

The Levitts, Abraham, Alfred, and Bill, revolutionized the suburban development industry. Abraham focused on landscaping and gardening, while Alfred experimented with innovative home designs and construction methods. Bill, the public face of the company, marketed and sold the homes with unparalleled enthusiasm.

The Levitts implemented groundbreaking construction techniques, dividing the process into 27 steps and assigning workers to specific tasks. This division of labor and efficiency transformed home construction into a"major manufacturing process"

Levittown homes were affordable, well-equipped, and situated in meticulously controlled communities. They appealed to both white and blue-collar workers, offering a sense of stability and comfort.

Discrimination in Levittown

Despite the Levitts' attention to community planning, their control extended beyond the physical appearance of Levittown to the inhabitants themselves. Bill Levitt implemented a discriminatory policy, excluding African Americans from purchasing homes in his communities, even after housing segregation was deemed unconstitutional.

By 1953, Levittown had become the largest community in the United States with no black residents, a stark reminder of the racial prejudices that persisted in American society.