Rural Versus Urban: Why America is Divided

Abstract

Abstract The rural and the urban are both terms that we, as a society, are generally familiar with. Donald Trump's election, however, these terms were suddenly vaulted into the mainstream of political thought and opinion. This divide may seem new to those not paying attention, but this fundamental difference in our society can explain many of the conflicts we have. The purpose of this study is to uncover why America's society defaults to this essential difference between the urban and the rural. Also, it explores how this difference intersects with various problems that will affect America in the future or already are affecting it at present. The method of research is based upon peer-reviewed journals from the Purchase Library database that pertain to the main problem of why the rural and the urban divide exists in America. The research questions are: Why has America divided along urban and rural lines? How does the urban and rural divide intersect with other societal problems? The importance of this study is to understand why we find ourselves in this scenario, where both the rural and the urban parts of our country seem to be living in separate universes. The "culture wars," as they have been dubbed, serve as an example of how the two aspects of America have drifted apart due to this rift. We as a nation must understand that to continue; we must heal this divide that has long plagued our nation.