2. The country and the city
• Originally a Dutch trading post, New York City has become one of the most
influential cities in the world.
• September 2, 1609 – Henry Hudson discovered New York harbor, one of the
greatest natural harbors in the world. Local indigenous population came out to
great Hudson’s ships.
• To ease the labor shortage Stuyvesant allowed anyone in and the result was
the Dutch becoming a minority with no fewer than 18 languages being spoken
in the city and varying religions in every area. The Dutch East Indian Trading
Company encouraged all religions without prejudice encouraging others to
escape persecution including the Jews beginning the separation of church and
state in America.
• The African American slave trade was brought to Manhattan and strengthened
the capitalist society in New York even though some Caucasians thought the
practice barbaric. As New York grew, so did the slave trade.
• England goes to war in 1756 and greatly benefits New York since New York is
the central base of operations of the English against the French in America.
• Spring of 1765, England passes the Stamp Act and hurts the merchant culture
thus starting the American Revolution.
• In 1776 over 500 hundred of British ships descended on Staten Island. George
Washington loses Manhattan.
• The Revolutionary War continued for 7 years.
• Following the war, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson come to power
and became engaged in debates over the future of the country. Hamilton in
favor of aggressive developmental programs finally trading favors of assistance
to New York’s debt with the location of the country’s capital.
• This led to the beginning of the New York Stock Exchange when local New
Yorkers business men gathered to determine how to handle the financial
assistance sent by the federal government. They became the commercial
emporium of the New World.
3. The City of Tomorrow
• 1929 began the Great Depression and capitalism was carried to its limit. New
Yorkers were forced to reinvent the city led by Fiorello LaGuardia and Robert
Moses.
• New Yorkers began picketing and took to the streets calling for government action.
• Roosevelt, who had a close relationship with LaGuardia, gave a large portion of
funds to New York allowing LaGuardia to build things that are socially useful like
schools, houses, hospitals, etc. turning New York into a showcase for the New
Deal.
• This was the beginning of the relationship between LaGuardia and Robert Moses,
when LaGuardia turned to him to help with the public works campaign.
• Car ownership begins to explode in the 1920s especially in New York where the
city needs to be remade to suit the needs of cars. Robert Moses sees this need.
• He conceives the idea of roadways and parks creating the Long Island State Park
Commission. It took 6-7 years to create. Moses became the contact for all road
builders on how to accomplish it.
4. The City In The Land Of The Dollar
• Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the 19th
century formed by the great commercial and industrial
expansion of the time.
• Technological breakthrough included the use of
lightweight structural steel in buildings in 1884 in
Chicago. In 1890 Chicago constructed the first completely
steel frame allowing architects to build even higher for
cheaper.
• Skyscrapers started popping up along Chicago’s skyline
dramatically increasing the value of the real estate and
forced the city to move the lower value buildings, like
residences and industrial buildings, elsewhere.
• This also meant white collar workers and skilled
craftsman begin to move out of the city where land was
cheaper and not restricted by fire codes. Eventually
density increased and these became suburban
communities.
• “Downtown”, an new American term, came to signify a
commercial concentration of offices, hotels, and retail
stores. People were attracted to the city in hope of
employment in one of its many downtown businesses.
• The railroad stations became a focus of civic
beautification since railroads were the primary means of
transportation. Along with increased parks and green
areas this was all done in the interest of public good to
allow residents a place for leisure and public recreation.
5. Sources
• New York; A Documentary Film. Directed by Ric Burns. PBS.
• Rybczynski, Witold. The City in the Land of the Dollar.
