Columbian Exposition Essay

American nations populating the Americas. They would be inviting foreigners to come and learn about their religious, cultural, and agricultural lifestyle. In the imperfect world that we know, it was an interesting idea executed in a disturbing manner.

The Columbian exposition was a fair held in Chicago in 1893. It was to celebrate Columbus’ 400 year anniversary since reaching “the new world.”
Chicago was not the only city willing to host the event. Something of such magnitude drew the interest of rival places like New York, Washington, and St.
Louis. The main objective of the fair would have been to educate and expose all elements composing the United States of America at the time, whether It had to do with science, entertainment, religion or even race.

The fair demanded 630 acres of land to be held on in Jackson Park and the
Midway Plaisance. The former is still one of the parks in existence in Chicago, and regarded as a legacy of the exposition. New ideas, like having an amusement section separate from the rest of the fair were first tested at the
Columbian Exposition. Previous events of similar nature tended to mix everything together. The very first Ferris wheel was also introduced to the world at the fair, and remained on the grounds until 1895. It wasn’t all dark and gloomy. It was an exciting thing to be a part of, Especially if you are of Caucasian decent.

Having migrated from Asia to the Americas during the ice age, Native
Americans were the first settlers on the continent. Thanks to an early, nomadic way of life, they eventually spread to almost every corner, occupying even the Caribbean. They broke off into different tribes as population, interests, and other subtle differences grew. Out of their...

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...ed into mainstream white culture. No one guessed that they were trying to display grief and suffering.

In performances Natives were displayed as barbaric and violent attackers of white people. It was a rather ironic and saddening thing to do considering the historical facts between the two groups.

In brief the Columbian exposition might have rightfully advertise the technological, industrial, and scientific advances made on American soil, but it stunk of bias and prejudice when it came to representing any minority race depicted at the fair. It was done in that way to touch at the curiosity of
Americans, knowing well their prejudice and negative judgment would be at the forefront of their observations. Though I would have definitely wish for things to be better, I feel the fair did a good job representing American ignorance and racial bias at the time.