“A city ready to burn” In 1871 according to Jim Murphy’s research in his book: The Great Fire, “Chicago, Illinois was a city ready to burn. How I can tell that Chicago was a city ready to burn is because, almost everything was made of wood and wood got painted to look like brick and sidewalks and roads were made of wood. They also had very dry seasons but lots of wind. Another example is that they had lots of shops that had coal and flammable gases and other chemicals with explosives. They should also be aware because they’d had fires there before but not as bad as that one they were not ready neither were the firemen. They also looked like of the city was very poor and they had to try and put out the fire with buckets, and they
The fire was at it’s worst on the ninth floor, because that’s where most of the flammable fabrics were. Once the fire got on the fabrics, it spread everywhere, and there was almost no way those girls could’ve stopped it. Also, during the middle of the fire, one of the workers tried to use the hose to put the fire out, and the worst possible outcome that could’ve happened,.....happened. There was no water that came out of the hose!
“When the fire began to rush on our floor we wanted to jump out of the window at first but somehow I kept my head while the others were fighting in the dark from the smoke. I kept saying to myself what all the greenhorns used to say, that in America they don't allow one to burn.” Rose Indursky was one of 275 women who worked in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that went up in flames on March 25th, 1911. One hundred and forty-six people died. The majority of deaths were on the ninth floor.
The city also didn’t have fire alarms in almost every building, just the ones that could afford it. Even some schools didn’t have a fire alarm. The fire could have been able to be prevented by using other materials. Some buildings that weren't made out of wood, still caught fire.
The Red Summer was an extremely violent and significant movement in America’s history, and it intensified racial tensions significantly in Chicago. “Drawn by the promise of employment and dignity, Chicago's black population more than doubled from 1916 to 1918” (Armstrong, 2016). This resulted in multiple instances of competition for jobs and housing, creating lots of tension between black and white people. Whites tried to prove their superiority in each neighborhood and created race riots that were the “...most severe of approximately 251 race riots throughout the U.S. in the ‘Red Summer’ (meaning “bloody”) following World War I; a manifestation of racial frictions intensified by large-scale African American migration to the North, industrial
In paragraph 13, the author stated , “the summer had been unusually dry. Between July and October only a few scattered showers had taken place and did not produce much water at all.”. A severe drought could have led to this fire. An area suffering from drought is more likely to have a fire because the environment is dry and has no moisture which can make dried leaves and sticks the perfect fuel. Also, in paragraph 13, the author writes, “What made Sunday different and particularly dangerous was the steady wind blowing in from the southwest.
Chicago, Illinois is the largest city in the American mid-west. Founded in 1830 and established into a water transit hub, it evolved quickly to become an industrial metropolis processing and transporting raw materials of its vast hinterland. Chicago got its name from a Miami Indian word for the wild leeks that lived on the bank of the short Chicago River. Over time all sorts of tribes such as the Miami, Saux, Fox and Pottawatomie 's all lived in that area.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the most fatal and infamous disasters in history, decimating thousands of valuable infrastructures and rapidly displacing the region's populace. However, with the horrors of the fire, it also sparked a newfound realization into the governors of the city. From the vastly terrible infrastructure of the city and the horribly low amount of rainfall, the governors finally realized their mistakes with their running of the city. And with newfound ideals for the city, it began a new era for Chicago.
This paper explores the major fire incident known as the Great Chicago Fire that occurred in the past and its lasting impact on fire suppression and fireground tactics in today's fire service. The Great Chicago Fire, which took place in October 1871, resulted in significant changes in fire safety regulations, building codes, fire suppression techniques, and the overall approach to firefighting. By examining the events leading up to the fire, its devastating consequences, and the subsequent reforms, this paper highlights the lessons learned and the enduring legacy of this historic fire incident. The Great Chicago Fire, one of the most infamous fires in American history, occurred in October 1871.
How would you choose to fix Chicago? What would you do? These drawn out questions proliferate the minds of everyone in this city. A city where gun violence is commonplace, poverty strikes down countless families, and public high school students would be lucky to attend college. Only until I entered adolescence did I realize I was among this population; I grew up in a neighborhood abundant with these traits, and most of my peers at school come from some form of wealth that save them and hide them from these traits one can only experience to truly understand.
In the 1930s, racism was a major problem in Chicago for the African American citizens in all societies. There was an area called the Black Belt, which is where almost all of the blacks lived. One of the exceptions was Archibald Motley. He was a painter who lived in a white community, which was extremely rare. Also in the 1930s of Chicago there were many racial problems with homicides.
The 18th amendment was a horrible idea and should have never happened. It was a slap to the face of the American people and the country itself. Prohibition did not help make the country better, but instead it made matters worse. Many problems occurred after the prohibition started, especially in the city of Chicago. In the article, “The Corrupt City” it states that, “Chicago was a perfect city for the development of large-scale organized criminal activity.
“Schaffer’s first signal went out at 9:30. Several minutes later, Schaffer realized his mistake and ordered Box 319 struck. This was still seven blocks away from the O’Learys’, but close enough that firefighters could see the flames and alter their course.” Then when the bell rang at City Hall, it only rang once which meant that the fire wasn’t a really big fire and didn’t need much help when it really needed much all the help they can get. As you can see the firefighters were dealing with a lot at the
The video "Chicago at the Crossroad" provides a comprehensive examination of the socioeconomic challenges faced by the city of Chicago. In this analysis, we will explore how the themes from the video align with concepts discussed in class lectures. Additionally, we will draw upon background knowledge from readings and lectures to provide context for the film. The analysis will also discuss new information learned from the video, share personal opinions, critically examine key issues raised, and conclude with recommendations and policy implications. The video touches upon several themes that resonate with class lectures, including urban sociology, crime and deviance, racial and ethnic inequality, urban politics, and public policy.
“Late one night, when we were all in bed, Mrs. O’Leary lit a lantern in the shed. Her cow kicked it over, then winked her eye and said, ‘There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight!’ (Abbott)” In 1871, a disaster arose in Chicago and reshaped the city permanently: a fire scorched around three square miles of land, leveled thousands of buildings, and stole hundreds of lives (“Chicago Fire of 1871”). Although the effects of this tragedy were harrowing, it actually served as the catalyst which allowed Chicago to become one of America’s largest, most influential cities.