American history Quote by James T. Patterson
““Beginning in the late 1940s, the current of people fleeing from farm to town and city swelled into a flood—one of the most dramatic demographic shifts of modern American history. By 1970 only 9.7 million people, or 4.8 percent of the overall population, worked on the land. The number of farms fell from 5.9 million at the close of World War II to 3 million twenty-five years later.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Deal and the Great Society, 1970
The shift from agrarian to urban life dramatically reduced farm workers and farms in mid‑20th‑century America.
In simple terms: America became more urban, farms declined.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how economic changes reshape societies.
Themes
urbanization
demographic shift
agricultural decline
economic transformation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
sociological
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- historical research
- urban planning
Key Concepts
rural‑to‑urban migration
industrialization
policy impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How did this shift affect rural communities?
- What policies eased the transition?
A Different Perspective
Urbanization can strain infrastructure and cultural identity.
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