Baltimore: A Retrospective Fifty Years Before Crack

BALTIMORE Retrospective: Fifty Years Before Crack

by Mack Wiebe

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2750 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	328 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In the 1970s, Baltimore was a city in crisis. The city's once-thriving manufacturing base had collapsed, and unemployment was rampant. Crime was on the rise, and the city was plagued by drug addiction and violence.

But fifty years earlier, Baltimore was a very different city. It was a thriving hub of industry and culture, and it was home to a large and prosperous middle class.

What happened in the intervening years to turn Baltimore into the city it is today? To answer that question, we need to take a look back at the city's history.

Baltimore's Golden Age

Baltimore was founded in 1729, and it quickly became a major center of commerce and trade. The city's location at the head of the Chesapeake Bay made it a natural gateway to the West, and it soon became a major shipping center for goods from all over the world.

In the 19th century, Baltimore became a major industrial center. The city's factories produced everything from ships to locomotives to steel. The city was also home to a large and prosperous middle class.

Baltimore's Golden Age came to an end in the early 20th century, when the city's manufacturing base began to decline. The city's economy was hit hard by the Great Depression, and unemployment rose sharply.

The Rise of Crime and Drugs

In the years after World War II, Baltimore's economy began to recover. The city's manufacturing base diversified, and new industries emerged. However, the city also began to experience a rise in crime and drug addiction.

In the 1960s, Baltimore became a major hub for the heroin trade. The city's proximity to New York City, a major source of heroin, made it a natural target for drug traffickers.

The heroin epidemic had a devastating impact on Baltimore. The drug destroyed lives and families, and it contributed to the city's rising crime rate.

The Crack Epidemic

In the 1980s, Baltimore was hit by a new drug epidemic: crack cocaine. Crack is a highly addictive form of cocaine that is smoked. It is cheap and easy to produce, and it quickly became the drug of choice for many poor and working-class Americans.

The crack epidemic had a devastating impact on Baltimore. The drug destroyed lives and families, and it contributed to the city's rising crime rate.

Baltimore Today

Today, Baltimore is still struggling to recover from the crack epidemic. The city is plagued by poverty, crime, and drug addiction. However, there are signs of hope.

In recent years, Baltimore has seen a resurgence of economic development. The city has attracted new businesses and industries, and the unemployment rate has fallen. The city is also investing in education and job training programs.

Baltimore is still a city with challenges, but it is also a city with hope. The city is working to overcome its past and build a better future for its residents.

Image Attributions

* [Image of Baltimore skyline](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Baltimore_skyline_from_Federal_Hill.jpg/1280px-Baltimore_skyline_from_Federal_Hill.jpg) by User:Piotrus at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10529108 * [Image of heroin addict](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Heroin_addict.jpg/1280px-Heroin_addict.jpg) by User:Daderot at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10223006 * [Image of crack cocaine](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Crack_cocaine_%28cocaine_base%29.jpg/1280px-Crack_cocaine_%28cocaine_base%29.jpg) by User:Daderot at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9860953

BALTIMORE Retrospective: Fifty Years Before Crack

by Mack Wiebe

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2750 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	328 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE