Imagine a time before hamburgers, hot dogs, iced tea, and cotton candy were popular. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the 1904 World’s Fair, a celebration bringing many cultures together into the heart of what we now call Forest Park in Saint Louis, Missouri. The 1904 World’s Fair popularized new ideas and products for fair attendees. The fair was also a centennial celebration of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. During the early 1900’s, the United States was establishing itself at an imperialistic and superior nation to the rest of the world. The 1904 World’s Fair was used by the government to sway public opinion of America’s current foreign policy matters. The fair brought many visitors from around the world and the United States together, giving Americans the opportunity to showcase their lifestyles and …show more content…
During the fair, there was a lot of propaganda to showcase superior middle-class American democracy, capitalism and culture. There were many exhibits at the fair from other countries that lacked any evidence of technical advancements, as measured by our Western ideals, making them seem less civilized, but inferior. The 1904 World’s Fair was used by the government to sway public opinion in support of America’s current foreign policy matters. Imperialism and colonization of Puerto Rico and Philippine Islands. Show the US needed to teach them how to be civilized. In an article from the August 25th, 1904 issue of the Monroe City Democrat, the Philippine Exposition is given high praise and recommended “to the student of ethnology, of economics, or politics, it is of paramount importance, to the average visitor who seeks merely novelty and sensation, it is without equal at the Fair. To the business man
The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 changed America in enormous ways. Probably the most prominent being that it directly changed America's and the world's perception of America and our capabilities. Not only was it the first in America, but the Chicago World's Fair propelled America...
Although the Chicago World’s fair of 1893 only lasted 6 months, it had an enormous impact on the city of Chicago, its people, and indeed the entire country. Up until that point in its history, the US had done nothing on the scale of the world’s fair, and was regarded as a country of barbarians and cowboys by much of the world, especially Old Europe. The fair was a perfect way for the US to disprove this. In building the fair, they would be placed in direct competition with France, who had built a magnificent fair only a few years before. If Chicago could at least build a fair on par with the Paris fair, it would prove to the world that the US was a cultural, military and political force to be reckoned with. Because of the fair’s gigantic scale, it became a microcosm of the conflicts and the tenor of the times. In effect, the fair was the turning point between the old Victorian days and the modern era, technologically, culturally, politically, and in the hearts of the people of the US and the world.
Findling, John E., Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions, 1851-1988 New York: Greenwood Press, 1990
...al Sam Gillis.” Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines, 1899-1903. New Haven, CT: Yale University, 1982. 87. Print.
American foreign policy during the 1890s was based on many factors that each acted as an individual justification for our country’s behavior as a whole. Racism, nationalism, commercialism, and humanitarianism each had its own role in the actions America took against other nations.
William McKinley in 1899 gave a speech regarding why the United States decided to keep the Philippines, when they were "dropped into our laps". Before giving the speech McKinley was burdened by what would be in the best interest of both countries. He gave four very strong points, with reasoning on why "keeping" the Philippines is the best plan of action for the United States to take.
They allowed America to become a commercial empire prospering in world trade. The Philippine Islands brought resources, new employment, better wages, constructive investment, important trade in provinces, and a wave of immigration causing American citizenship to raise. With all of these additions to America’s economy, it justifies the decision to keep the Philippine Islands as a victory for the spread of imperialistic ideas in America. Imperialist were more interested in the betterment of America as a whole which was more persuasive than anti-imperialist motives. Because of their claims to raise American trade and profit through the possession of the Philippines, the imperialist won the ultimate argument on the possession of the islands. The decision to keep the islands was beneficial to both parties involved. Because of the ties made between America and the Philippines, the United States is now one of the island's top trading partners and largest foreign investors, and in turn, America currently receives a multitude of exported goods from the islands including copper strings, sponges, felt hats, sulfides, and vacuum flask glass
In 1893, the great Chicago World’s Fair took place. Just climbing to the second largest populated city in America, Chicago had a lot to prove. The World’s Fair was a perfect opportunity for Chicago to come together and show that they can compete with other large cities like New York and Philadelphia. For the World’s Fair to be as successful as it was, there was a need for leaders, innovators, new inventions, and tremendous attractions. Without these, the fair could not have been designed and constructed as well as it was. Eventually, Chicago had convinced the entire United States that they could be just as powerful and influential as all the other larger, big-name cities of the country. America transformed into an advanced country as a result of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
The Miss America Pageant was a wake-up call for people everywhere. The roles of women were changing, and there was little anyone could do to stop it. New attitudes were showcased in the pageant by young women who were well-educated and ready to take on the world. They inspired people and showed America a different kind of woman, one who was proud of her looks, personality, and intelligence. Not everyone supported the pageant though, and those who did not made their opinions known. The competition had its fair share of scandals as well, but good or bad the Miss America Pageant has enthralled audiences long past the 1920s.
Opening day of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia was a spectacular festival of flags, music, and a one-hundred gun salute. After President Grant gave his opening address, the signal was given to unfurl and raise every flag and insignia simultaneously on the entire fairground. A chorus of one thousand began to sing, accompanied by an orchestra and chimes, and the barrage of one hundred rifles symbolized a century of independence for the United States of America (McCabe). This was the first major international world's fair in North America, and while many foreigners argued the United States did not have anything to show, the country shone through displaying its growth into a major industrial power.
He goes into detail about how the government began to increase its control on nation’s economy for war, as well as shape the public’s opinions through the use propaganda and the establishment of new committees. He defines what it meant to be an American during World War I and briefly goes over the opportunities that the war introduced to women and African Americans. This video is useful in providing insight as to how glorifying war became integrated into the American character through government actions. Furthermore, it demonstrates how the American war culture led to nationwide cooperation towards a changed economy that was primarily focused on supporting those at the front, resulting in America’s success in World War
Austria hosted a world's fair in 1873, as it aimed to present itself as a world leader and the equal of England and France. The structure that served as the focal point and ideological locus for the Vienna Exhibition was its striking Rotunda, a feat of engineering and design, which is pictured during the fair's opening ceremonies on May 1, 1873.
... An American History of the World. 4th ed. of the book. W.W. Norton, 2012, 671. 2.)
Appearing in an article on May 22, 1893 in the Illinois Staats-Zeitung, the author, who isn’t listed by name explains that “it is the duty of German-Americans to “acknowledge and appreciate these efforts and also this friendly attitude towards our adopted father-land.” However, the German’s did display some disdain for their overall treatment at the fair.
In the “The Sole Guardians of the Art Inheritance of Asia”: Japan and China at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, Carol Ann Christ described the first time Japan shows its colonial military power and China’s first attend at World Exposition. The Expo has always been an important place to showcase modern industrial civilization, leading science, new trade and cultural landscapes. As one of the winners of the wars, Japan wants to use this 1904 St. Louis fair to make a strong statement of its dominance in east Asia. By using this world fair as a stage Japan claimed its equal position as the America and Britain. Meanwhile, they also want to indicate the disparity between Japan and rest of the Asia include China and India. Because of the fear of Western domination, Japan is in