<p>Chicago has the history that everyone knows about, and the history that no one knows about. Being the third largest city in the Untied States, you immediately think history of the Great Fire, and the infamous Mobster Al Capone. But did you know that before Chicago was officially named, it had three pervious names? Or can you name other nicknames for Chicago besides the Windy City? Chicago should not be only recognizing for its beautiful places, and infamous gangsters. It should be known more for its true history, and the landmarks that stand today.
Many never knew about the great explore of Chicago with Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet. Marquette and Jolliet were the first to ever to explore any land of Chicago. Louis Jolliet familys has a history of becoming priest, but Jolliet never like that idea. Instead he wanted to trade with Indians, by the Mississippi River. Marquette eventually met up with Jolliet and they both started an adventure of a lifetime. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet were the very first Europeans to ever follow the Mississippi River up to the trading post ran by Indians. Both men sailed from Canadian through the Chicago Portage and Lake Michigan with five other men.
Chicago before it was founded was just a battle field and military baselines during the American Revolutionary War. Chicagos first true resident that was non-Native American and founder of Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. DuSable was a free black man from Haiti, who was sailing along the Gulf of Mexico and ended up traveling to the land where Chicago was. For survival, DuSable permanently built a house by the Lake and started a trading post business. Chicagos population consisted of Indians that constantly attacked the military base of whites. Many people believe that Chicago was founded by French Explorers in the 17th century but DuSable was really the actual founder. Although Chicago was promptly where French people would live or named the canoe routes. This occurrence was happening throughout a period in the early 1790s.
In 1803, after the Marquette and Louis expedition, Fort Dearborn was created. Fort Dearborn was the first fort to ever be built in Chicago. Everyone thought it was built to keep the settlers and army men safe for war, but they were wrong. In 1812, America was declared a war with Great Britain. Once the war became really hectic between both sides, the government ordered the Fort to immediately abandon by everyone. The soldiers and settlers left the fort in Chicago and continued it in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the process of moving to Indiana, about half of the soldiers were attacked, killed or captured by Indians. Indians felt that the soldiers of that war intruded their lands, so they eventually burned Fort Dearborn to the ground. People started to rebuild the Fort Dearborn in 1816, so that others can have homes.
Before Chicago as considered a city in 1834, it was first considered as a town in 1833. It was considered a town first because the river divided the town into three sections: North, South, and West. People took information from traveling the river. These were the only regions noticed from following the river. It was also considered a town because the population was ridiculously small. The government estimated around only one-hundred people to live there during that time. There was a very small amount of people there because; the government limited the area that was actually considered as part of the town. As soon as Chicago got its first charter in it was divided in six wards, which allowed a mayor for a one-year term.
After the mayor was elected, he eventually expands the limits of Chicago. When Chicago reached over 5,000 residents by making the Indians give up or sell their lands, it finally became a city in 1834. From all of the Indian migration, Chicago had lots of lands to offer. Everyone needed new land, so over a period of time, over 4,000 people came to share the new land. Since the city was so overpopulated, railroads were introduced to the Chicago. It took almost eight years to build ten railroad lines through the whole city. When trains were first used, it was mainly for farmers, to transport goods. Over time, the first subway was evented in 1938.
Chicago was going great and developing new techniques to unite the city, but it all was destroyed in 1871. It was a very hot and summer day for Chicago. Fires were a big deal during that time, but the firemen of that day were able to handle them, until one fire. As rumors spurred, even to this day, many people believe that the Great Fire was because of a woman cow. It started when a woman was milking her cow, then the cow accidentally kicked over a burning lantern. The lantern was near hay and wooden houses, so it made the fire spread very easily. A cause of the horrendous fire was how humid and hot the day was. The fire was going at an unbearable speed and reached all the way to the River. People thought they were safe, until ashes went into the river and cause the fire to cross the path. The fire continued to destroy the rest of the city, including, buildings and banks. The fire was burning the town for almost two days.
When the fire was over, 300 people were killed, 100,000 were left homeless, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, 73 miles of street were destroyed and $200 million of property was destroyed. After the Great Fire basically burned down half of the city, it took three months to rebuild most of the buildings. People started building their homes with a fire system. Over a couple of years, the government thought it was safe enough to build a skyscraper. The first skyscraper was built in 1885. The building was called the Home Insurance Building. A man named Otis eventually invented a device to carry people up flights in tall buildings, called the elevator. The Home Insurance Building was 10 stories high and it was 138 feet tall. It was later demolished in 1931.
Some of the history that majority of everyone know is about the Great Migration. The Great Migration is where the around seven million Black people moving out of the Southern United States to the North or Midwest and Western states from 1916 to 1970. But some people didnt know that Chicago has had many inventions or new creations discovered over the years, but once African Americans were freed, no one wanted to share with them. From all of the slavery and racism for so many years, finally someone stepped up to defend the African American. Dr. Martin Luther king Jr., offend visit Chicago during the start of his career to build blacks freedom. The NAACP was finally recognized for helping black get the freedom they deserved with King. Not many civil rights leaders were noticed form Chicago, because it was an almost free state to everyone.
The music became a successful hit during the Great Migration until the present time. The music was mainly created by African Americans to express their feelings toward the world. This music was called The Blues and Jazz. The Blues is a variety of instruments put together to create a sound of sadness or depression. The instruments that are commonly used in Blues are electrical guitar, drums, piano, bass guitar and saxophone or harmonica. Some of The Blues artist are from Mississippi, but it is played in the Midwest. Jazz can be very hard to define, because it has a mixture of every music genre into it. But it is used by a word Ragtime which means it has a vibrant tone but you can dance and express yourself through it. Famous jazz and Blues artist that are still noticed till this day is Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Louis Armstrong, and many more. Modern artist use the influence from jazz and the blues to create a new sound of music.
Chicago has tremendous, fantastic history that doesnt get noticed very often. It also has the history that only get noticed because it was deadly. Chicago is the home of many other great adventurous, from The Sears Tower being built to Michael Jordan victory streak. Chicago also has numerous historical museums and landmarks from many tourists learn about. Besides all the historical sights about Chicago, there are many fun sights like the giant Ferris wheel at Navy Pier or the shed aquarium. Chicago is and will always be a fascinating sight for many people.</p>
<p>i dont really know how to use MLA format. so can anyone help me cite these websites?
-<a href=“http://www.aviewoncities.com”>www.aviewoncities.com</a>
-<a href=“http://www.chicagohistoryjournal.com”>www.chicagohistoryjournal.com</a>
-library.thinkquest.org/CR0215480/
-<a href=“http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/chicago/history”>http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/chicago/history</a></p>