Chicago 1891-1900
The Great Fire 1871
Chicago is located in Illinois, and it first became a city in 1837. In 1891, Chicago was America's second largest city.Today, it is considered to be the third largest city in the United States (New York and Los Angeles) , and the world's leading industrial and transportation center (Duis p. 420). The city was known for providing good jobs for European immigrants, who traveled to work in factories, steel mills, and shipping business. In the late 1800s, Chicago became an industrial and commercial city. This all began after the destruction of the city. In 1871, there was the Great Chicago Fire, that destroyed most of the city. The fire forced thousands of people to flee away from the flames, which started by a cow who kicked over a lantern in a barn (Duis, p.435). The fire killed many people and destroyed much of the buildings and property worth millions of dollars. In this case, the city had to be re-built. This prompted the need for invention, and gave architects the opportunity to design an entire city using new styles and construction. In addition, this re-building to the city offered more jobs, because they needed workers to help build the city. More people came to Chicago for work, but this quickly turned to overcrowdeness, and this is when in 1893 Chicago became the second largest city in America. From this, Chicago became the nations architectural capital (Duis, p. 435).
World Fair 1893
Chicago was a progressive city that had attracted a large number of artists, architects, writers, and publishers. In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition opened in Jackson Park, and would celebrate their progress in the largest world fair event. They would honor Christopher Columbus arrival in America (400th anniversary), but fair was more focused on celebrating the city's accomplishments (Duis. 435). A complete city was designed and built to accommodate the fair, so that the new marvels of technology were displayed in a setting that showed what a city could be (Rogers, p. 46). The early 1900s was a time where technology was celebrated, much like the 21st century, where computers and the Internet were celebrated as an improvement, or in other words progression to a more modernized world. In Chicago, the fair would exhibit new and exciting advancements in technology including electricity. Electricity was new for Americans in the 1900s. At the fair, there was an Electricity Building with a model home showcasing an electric stove, washing machine, carpet sweeper, doorbell, fire alarm, and lighting fixtures; two of Thomas Edison's latest inventions were on display: 1.) phonograph and 2.) Kinetoscope (motion picture machine) (Rogers, p. 46). Henry Ford was inspired by an "combustion engine" at the fair, believed that the engine could bring about the possibility of designing a horseless carriage, which would become the automobile. Electricity was a new idea for Americans, and they were excited about the possibilities of lighting farms, individual houses, building cities and having automatic transportation. Only 8 percent of American homes were wired for electricity in the 1900s (Rogers, p. 46). The character Dorothy, lived on a farm but enters a fantastical world where lights are illuminating an entire city. Many Americans were influenced by this World Fair. In the 1900s, the world was advancing technologically, which must have influenced Baum's writing the Wizard of Oz. In the story, there is a city called "The Emerald City of Oz" which highlights the most advanced architecture and magical beings. The combination of magic and technology seems to represent the history of the 1900s.
Chicago is located in Illinois, and it first became a city in 1837. In 1891, Chicago was America's second largest city.Today, it is considered to be the third largest city in the United States (New York and Los Angeles) , and the world's leading industrial and transportation center (Duis p. 420). The city was known for providing good jobs for European immigrants, who traveled to work in factories, steel mills, and shipping business. In the late 1800s, Chicago became an industrial and commercial city. This all began after the destruction of the city. In 1871, there was the Great Chicago Fire, that destroyed most of the city. The fire forced thousands of people to flee away from the flames, which started by a cow who kicked over a lantern in a barn (Duis, p.435). The fire killed many people and destroyed much of the buildings and property worth millions of dollars. In this case, the city had to be re-built. This prompted the need for invention, and gave architects the opportunity to design an entire city using new styles and construction. In addition, this re-building to the city offered more jobs, because they needed workers to help build the city. More people came to Chicago for work, but this quickly turned to overcrowdeness, and this is when in 1893 Chicago became the second largest city in America. From this, Chicago became the nations architectural capital (Duis, p. 435).World Fair 1893
Chicago was a progressive city that had attracted a large number of artists, architects, writers, and publishers. In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition opened in Jackson Park, and would celebrate their progress in the largest world fair event. They would honor Christopher Columbus arrival in America (400th anniversary), but fair was more focused on celebrating the city's accomplishments (Duis. 435). A complete city was designed and built to accommodate the fair, so that the new marvels of technology were displayed in a setting that showed what a city could be (Rogers, p. 46). The early 1900s was a time where technology was celebrated, much like the 21st century, where computers and the Internet were celebrated as an improvement, or in other words progression to a more modernized world. In Chicago, the fair would exhibit new and exciting advancements in technology including electricity. Electricity was new for Americans in the 1900s. At the fair, there was an Electricity Building with a model home showcasing an electric stove, washing machine, carpet sweeper, doorbell, fire alarm, and lighting fixtures; two of Thomas Edison's latest inventions were on display: 1.) phonograph and 2.) Kinetoscope (motion picture machine) (Rogers, p. 46). Henry Ford was inspired by an "combustion engine" at the fair, believed that the engine could bring about the possibility of designing a horseless carriage, which would become the automobile. Electricity was a new idea for Americans, and they were excited about the possibilities of lighting farms, individual houses, building cities and having automatic transportation. Only 8 percent of American homes were wired for electricity in the 1900s (Rogers, p. 46). The character Dorothy, lived on a farm but enters a fantastical world where lights are illuminating an entire city. Many Americans were influenced by this World Fair. In the 1900s, the world was advancing technologically, which must have influenced Baum's writing the Wizard of Oz. In the story, there is a city called "The Emerald City of Oz" which highlights the most advanced architecture and magical beings. The combination of magic and technology seems to represent the history of the 1900s. 
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