Chicago World Fair Research Paper

The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, more formally known as the Columbian Exposition, was a fair constructed to celebrate Columbus’ arrival in the New World. Chicago was known as the White City, but did not appear as pure and spotless as its name suggested. For instance, there were many ways one could get killed. “Fire took a dozen lives a day...There was diphtheria, typhus, cholera, influenza. And there was murder.” (Larson 12). These unstoppable causes of death was one of the reasons Chicago’s reputation was tarnished. Furthermore, the Panic of 1893 struck and greatly affected the city of Chicago. The Panic’s effects included “financial crises”, “bankruptcy”, and “high rates of unemployment and homelessness”. (Panic of 1893). Because of the city’s economic depression, the fair would decide whether Chicago’s circumstances would improve or deteriorate. Eventually, the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair displayed what America would soon become in an industrial, military, and economic perspective.

Daniel Burnham and John Root’s project of the Chicago World’s Fair convinces the reader that the project was tremendously rushed. Burnham and Root faced a lot of complications and dilemmas. Starting with the time constraint when the Fair needed to be finished. “If an engineer capable of besting Eiffel did not step forward soon, Burnham knew, there simply would not be enough time left to build anything worthy of the fair. Somehow he needed to rouse the engineers of America.” (155) Burnham was given ___ years until the opening date May 1, 1893. This project had to be done swiftly and still galvanize America, and more importantly the world. With this difficulty that Burnham had to confront, he also had to confront his architectural team about their artistic views and how they could comprise on an unambiguous theme for the Fair. Certainly with the time limitations Burnham and his team of employees faced, some obstacles would occur with the treatment of his workers. Burnham had to open the fair in two weeks, it was mid-April, “ the weather was gorgeous, but other cruelties abounded. Four exposition workers lost their lives, two from fractured skulls, two electrocuted. The

     Although the Chicago World’s fair of 1893 only lasted 6 months, it had an enormous impact on the city of Chicago, its people, and indeed the entire country. Up until that point in its history, the US had done nothing on the scale of the world’s fair, and was regarded as a country of barbarians and cowboys by

In Eric Larson’s work The Devil in the White City, he explores the historical occurrences of Chicago around 1893. More specifically it revolves around the World’s Fair meant to commemorate Columbus’ expedition in which he discovered the Americas. Larson researched the recorded information from letters sent and other works and tried to fill in the gaps of what may have happened. The two main plot points the book follows are that of Daniel Burnham, an architect working to make the fair happen, and H. H. Holmes, a serial killer who is using the fair to his advantage. The book also explores the Black City of Chicago and what holding the world’s fair would bring to Chicago given the context of the economic state of nineteenth century America. The following is an attempt to break down some of these key issues found in the pages of Larson’s work.

Additionally we learn that Chicago will host the 1893 World's Fair which will primarily have to do with

With all of the fair’s positivity and Holmes’ charm, it seemed preposterous to even suggest. Overall, Larson's book masterfully explores the contrasting sides of Chicago and the individuals involved in the World's Fair and how it reflects the sentiment of the Gilded

During the year of 1893, times in Chicago were rough. The economy was failing and there were many union strikes. There was a significant global economic decline which affected a young and growing America tremendously. When compared with other metropolitan cities like New York, Chicago was seen as the Wild West and it didn’t have a good reputation. It was difficult to find jobs and the working conditions as well as the pay were poor. In 1890, Chicago would win the bid for hosting the world fair. This would put a lot of pressure on Chicago due to the fact that no one believed the Paris Fair, along with the Eiffel Tower, could be outdone. However, with the introduction of the Ferris Wheel the world was shocked. The fair changed the world’s perception

In 1893, America was intimidated by France’s nationalism celebrated during their 1889 World 's Fair and decided to celebrate themselves. On May 1st, the Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago to celebrate everything that America has held sacred since the beginning of time. In the sinister non-fiction novel The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, the haunting tale of the events that happened behind the scenes at the 1893 World’s Fair are recounted and used to analyze how society was impacted. The good reviews of this book help highlight the cultural importance of the 1893 World’s Fair, architect Daniel H. Burnham, and serial killer H.H. Holmes have on society today.

The 1893 Chicago World's Fair had a major impact on today's culture and America as a whole. New products and inventions were influenced by the fair and made the ideas fun, new, and exciting for the world to see. Architectural and technological aspects during the fair were the starting foundation of some of America's greatest accomplishments. The fair was a chance for the world to acknowledge America's ingenuity and perseverance in times of struggle and conflict.

The Columbian World’s Exposition of 1893 marked an important time in American history. The overall fame of the World’s Columbian Exposition, or also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, is in large part due to the spread of ideas and inventions that originated at the fair itself. The novel, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, depicts a clear portrait of the fair’s impact in the time leading up to, during, and after the exposition. The fair established itself as a metaphorical historical monument, in the way that it honored the past and served as a memorial to Columbus, and the way that it impacted future societies and events. The fair began as a show of superiority on part of American society, over all other countries, like France or England. Regarding competition, the fair sought to “Out-Eiffel” Gustave Eiffel, architect of the Eiffel Tower, for architecture, and to outclass the rest of the world in all other fields. The fair also served to foreshadow the growing powers of America both intellectually and militarily; the spirit and ideas shown at the fair showed the emergence of intellectual superiority that would only serve as a sample of the achievements of society that were yet to come. The intellectual productions of the fair can be attributed to the architectural firm coordinating the event, Burnham and Root. The firm was headed by Daniel Burnham and John Root, both accredited as the brightest in their field. Under their management, the Chicago World’s Fair

The thought of Chicago hosting the world’s fair would be daunting at first, but it could turn around the reputation of Chicago from one of a city of gloom and darkness, to one of a city of light and progress from the Great Chicago fire of 1871, and that city would be fascinating for years to come. Chicago would get an economic shot in the arm from the revenue that it would get from hosting the 1893 World Fair and it would make Chicago into a great city of America. The event and also the transformation that would happen to the city of Chicago would not have happened if it would not be for one great man who had taken up the challenge to make sure to host this 1893 World fair.

Given the nickname the "White City" because of its elegant and pristine buildings, the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 was one of the most powerful events in American history. There were long lasting impacts on American culture, economy, and technology- the fair brought new advancements in virtually every aspect of daily life. It was held “to commemorate Columbus’s discovery of the New World” (Larson 15). The fair was a symbol of the expertise America possessed, but simultaneously highlighted the hardships that surrounded it. The fair increased wages, marketed more products for public use, and produced architectural feats that challenged the ones that stood at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. There was much more to the fair behind the showstopping displays that it created. Behind the exotic Algerian belly dancers and astonishing replicas of famous cities, the corporate world was establishing its dominance. Labor unions struggled to fight for fair wages and working time. Although disturbances and disagreements in the construction of the fair foreshadowed a negative ending, breakthroughs such as white lead paint and the Ferris Wheel attracted many visitors. The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 is a vivid exhibit of the independent cultural, economical, and technological superpower that America would grow to become in the future.

A World’s Fair is an “[I]nternational exposition that features exhibits dealing with commerce, industry, and science.” (World Book Encyclopedia 412) Entertainment is also present along with cultural activities. In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, although inaugurated a year late, commemorated the discovery of America. I feel that the Exposition displayed some of the more beautiful architecture of its time; its immense buildings and sculptures drew heavily from Greek and other classical styles, and it could possible be because of the sweeping popularity in Beaux Arts architecture.

The story of the fast food industry and its effect on the world is well told in the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Schlosser makes the claim that, what started out as a special treat for the kids eventually ended up defining a way of life. During a brief period of time, the fast food industry has helped transform not only the American diet, but also our countryside, economy, workforce, and popular culture. The book thoroughly describes how important the two factors of money and power are in today's society. The book clearly establishes the broader thesis that as consumers, we should know what we eat even if it makes us uncomfortable by the knowledge.

March 31st, of 1889 marked an important day in not only France’s history, but America’s history as well. The Eiffel Tower was unveiled that day, during the Exposition Universelle in Paris, joining “the palace of machines,” and other larger than life feats of “the iron architecture [that] dominated the fair” (Expo 1889 Paris). As a nation, America was embarrassed and determined to show their dominance in the realm of iron and steel working. Thus, the idea for the Chicago’s world fair was born, giving the US “a needed opportunity to out-Eiffel Eiffel” (Larson 15). Before long, it was decided that the fair would be called “The Columbian Exposition”, honoring the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s sail across the Atlantic. During its six months of operation the fair was an unequivocal success and “had a powerful and lasting impact on the nation's psyche” politically, socially, and economically (Larson 373). Consequently, despite having certain economic implications, the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, to a large extent, was an event that both influenced millions and acted as a transitional period for America in several different manners.