Final answer:
The decline of Pittsburgh in the 1940s stemmed from industrial competition, technological advancements leading to automation, and the 1959 Steel Strike, which cumulatively weakened the local steel industry and contributed to the city's economic downturn.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decline of Pittsburgh in the 1940s can be attributed to several complex factors. The city was once a powerhouse in steel production, but faced challenges such as competition with regions with weaker labor unions, automation which threatened jobs, and businesses outsourcing to countries with lower wages. During this period, the Manufacturing Belt, where Pittsburgh played a vital role, started to experience a shift towards urban decay and was later termed the Rust Belt due to the significant loss of manufacturing jobs and the closures of factories.
This economic transition was a major factor in the decline of Pittsburgh's prominence in the steel industry. Additionally, the 1959 Steel Strike highlighted the tensions between new technology, labor costs, and the strength of labor unions, resulting in a weakened state for the steel industry post-strike as companies sought steel from overseas producers.