1.) In regards to my developments in research this week I have taken steps in the direction of narrowing my research question. Because the topic of Eisenhower’s Interstate Defense and Highway Systems economic ramifications sprawl across the entirety of the United States I felt the need to narrow what I will be exploring. Due to this need to narrow my scope I have decided to focus on the economic implifications of the interstate highway system on urban centers from 1974 to the turn of the century.
In order to focus more intensely on urban centers I have begun looking into which cities I will focus on. I plan on doing most of my research through the economic effects on Philadelphia, a mid-western city and a western city. In order to do this I am finding primary source material from the areas to compile a frame to base my argument.
2.) Through my experience this week I have began to truly form my research plan into a coherent roadmap, no pun intended. Before this week I had an idea of what I was going to do my project on but I hadn’t a clue about where my focus was going to be. After this weeks research I have figured that the most relatable content to focus on would have to be cities due to Temple University being situated five minutes from city hall and even closer to the Philadelphia bypass portion of I-95.
3.) In order to find more solid primary source material I have had to access much of it through the Library of Congress. I have been fortunate enough to find a large span of materials from all over the country of the development and results of the highway system with a good bit of digital accessing abilities. I feel as though I have not been able to find as much as I would like to have to create a solid understanding of the interstate system’s historiography, but continuing my research will only provide more and more material.