How Wealth and Housing Policies Shaped American Inequality

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores the historical and systemic roots of social status and class in the United States, using an accessible airline travel analogy to explain complex economic concepts. It examines how American society shifted from a European-style aristocracy based on titles to a system based on wealth accumulation and property rights. The narrator guides viewers through significant historical policies that have shaped inequality, including the restriction of women's property rights under coverture laws and the government-sanctioned practice of redlining in the housing market. The video provides a deep dive into how federal housing policies in the 1930s, specifically the creation of Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps, institutionalized racial and economic segregation. By analyzing maps of Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio, the content illustrates how "redlining" systematically denied loans and investment to minority communities while subsidizing wealth creation in white suburban areas. It connects these historical decisions to the long-term generational wealth gaps seen today. This resource is highly valuable for Civics, U.S. History, and Economics classrooms as it makes abstract concepts like "social contract" and "systemic inequality" concrete. It offers clear definitions of key terms and uses primary source documents, such as the FHA Underwriting Manual, to demonstrate how government policy directly influences social mobility. Teachers can use this video to spark discussions about fairness, the economic impact of discrimination, and the ongoing work toward housing equity.