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The Impact Of The Columbian Exposition

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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.
Politically, the Columbian Exposition was an immense success. Just coming out of an industrial revolution, the nation had several inventions and innovations, that were yet to be seen by other leading countries, such as AC DC electricity, agricultural machines, and an impressive transcontinental railroad system. Without a doubt, the Columbian Exposition

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