Final answer:
By the mid-1950s, the methodologies devised by William Levitt significantly influenced the increase in suburban development and homeownership in the United States, though it also perpetuated racial segregation in these new communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
By 1955, suburban development and homeownership rates had grown significantly in the United States, largely due to the methods and practices of William Levitt and his influence on residential construction. Levitt, widely recognized for his innovations in mass-producing homes, played a key role in shaping the suburbs of post-World War II America. His planned communities, known as Levittown, were characterized by standardized, affordable homes and were a symbol of the American dream for many, although his policies also reinforced racial segregation at the time.
The first Levittown, constructed on Long Island, was comprised of 17,000 homes with homogenous designs to streamline the building process. The influence of Levitt's methods was so widespread that by the 1950s, 85% of all homes built were located in the suburbs. These developments were supported by the G.I. Bill, which provided veterans with favorable mortgage terms, thus facilitating the surge in homeownership. In the 1950s, the percentage of Americans owning homes increased from 43.6% in 1940 to nearly 62% by 1960, signifying the profound impact of developers like Levitt and the socio-economic trends of the time.