Crisis in Levittown, PA
- Rosie Jayde Uyola
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Learning Target: "I can analyze the 1957 crisis in Levittown to explain how de facto segregation and racial tensions contradicted the ideal of the post-WWII American Dream."
Vocabulary
Segregation — separation of people by race in daily life and institutions.
Redlining — denying or limiting services (like mortgages) to people in certain neighborhoods, often based on race.
FHA (Federal Housing Administration) — government agency that insured mortgages and influenced who could buy homes.
GI Bill — post‑WWII benefits that helped many veterans buy homes; access was often unequal.
De facto — practices that happen in reality, even if not required by law.
Suburbanization — the growth of communities outside cities, often with new housing developments.
Analysis (Choose 2 questions, draw arrow to answer)
QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING FILM (NOT AFTER)
Causes of the Crisis: What was the specific cause of the crisis in Levittown, Pennsylvania? What reasons did protesting residents provide for opposing the Myers family moving in?
The "American Dream" Myth: How does the reaction of the residents contradict the post-WWII image of the "ideal" American suburb?
Northern vs. Southern Racism: What similarities existed between the actions of Northern citizens in Levittown and those in the segregated South?
Justification of Segregation: How did white residents use their children to justify their opposition to integration?
Arguments of Pro-Integrationists: What reasons did residents who welcomed or were indifferent to the Myers family give for their stance?
Cold War Contradictions: How did the events in Levittown conflict with the United States' rhetoric of being a free, superior nation compared to communism?
Role of Women: What are the implications of the high-pitched, emotional, and often angry opinions voiced by women in the documentary?
Modern Day Parallels: What connections can be made between the 1957 reactions in the video and racial, social, or economic tensions today?
Create your own EXIT TICKET Harkness Question (open-ended, not “yes/no”)
Answer your neighbor’s EXIT TICKET
