Interstate Highway System
Definition
A network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Initiated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was designed for both defense and to connect major cities.
Analogy
The Interstate Highway System is like the veins in your body, connecting all parts of the country together and allowing for efficient travel and communication.
Related terms
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956: Legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower that authorized the construction of the Interstate Highway System.
Urbanization: The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
Infrastructure: Basic physical systems of a business or nation; transportation, communication, sewage, water & electric systems are all examples of infrastructure.
"Interstate Highway System" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (4)
- Which of the following best characterizes the environmental impact of the interstate highway system in the United States?
- Which key legislation led to the creation of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s?
- What impact might the lack of interstate highway system in post-1945 America have had on suburbanization?
- What could be a possible outcome of the U.S. government's decision to not invest in the Interstate Highway System after 1945?
Resources
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