San Francisco and Chicago are cities that will always be remembered during their time of massacre. Many were lost but through the losses they gained new structures that protect the citizens today and the ones yet to come. Although the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 were both horrific events that created huge destruction on the United States, they took a big toll in people’s lives in many different ways and encouraged them to take charge and rebuild back their hometowns that they loved.
Dianne Feinstein, the oldest currently serving senior United States Senator from California, was born in San Francisco California in June 22nd, 1933. She became a mayor of San Francisco when the assigned San Francisco mayor was shot and killed in 1978. Although she lost the governor of California in 1990, she became the first woman elected U.S. senator from California in 1992.
To become the first to hold a position is a tremendous accomplishment; However, it is also something that may come with extra criticism and possibly scorn. Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. She was a remarkable person, born on March 26, 1930 in Texas. She began her education by attending Stanford and majoring in economics, then recognizing her interest in law, she returned to Stanford, and completed law school in two years as opposed to the standard three, finally graduating in 1952. After struggling to find work, O’Connor served as a civilian lawyer in the Quartermaster’s Corps in Germany, with her husband John Jay O’Connor. For six years following this, she worked as a stay at home mom raising her three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay. In 1969 she went back to work in politics, after being appointed to a vacant senate seat by Governor Jack Williams; Sandra was very successful, and was re-elected for this position twice. The year 1981, however, is when O’Connor earned what is likely to be considered her greatest achievement: she was appointed by Ronald Reagan to become the first ever woman Supreme Court Justice (biography.com 2012).
Born June 11, 1880, Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected into U.S. Congress at the age of 36. After attending college, she tried several jobs, following her mother’s lead as a teacher, then a seamstress, and finally a social worker. She was also a pacifist, reformer, and women’s suffrage activist. Having moved to Washington State, she became involved with the suffrage movement, pursuing the need to amend that state 's constitution, allowing voting rights for women. Once Washington was ratified in 1911, Rankin returned home to Montana, fighting for the liberty to vote there, taking until 1914 to establish those rights.
In the early twentieth century, San Francisco, a bustling city full of people with diverse cultures, stood in the midst of the Second Industrial Revolution. At this time, the brilliant inventions of airplanes, automobiles, and radios were changing the everyday lives of many. San Francisco had just recovered from the four-year burden of the bubonic plague (“Bubonic”). However, right when things were getting back to normal, a destructive earthquake hit the city on April 18, 1906. Although the shaking lasted for less than a minute, the devastated city had crumbled buildings and a substantial loss of lives. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 had a lasting effect on the city and its people, and it proved to be one of the most catastrophic disasters in history.
In her first term in office, she was successful in including provisions in major legislation to expand housing opportunities for low-income people and to assist small business owners and farmers. She is an active member of the Congressional Human Right
As a self-proclaimed catalyst for change, Shirley Chisholm broke down barriers within the American political system. Only seven years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Chisholm entered the 1972 presidential race as a candidate for the Democratic Party. This timing made her the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination, as well as the first African American to run for the presidency. Chisholm sought to break down the American presidency – an office traditionally held by white, privileged men. As Chisholm herself described, she “‘ran because somebody had to do it first’” (Winslow 107). This boldness paved the way for many, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
1. Dolores Huerta was a member of Community Service Organization (“CSO”), a grass roots organization. The CSO confronted segregation and police brutality, led voter registration drives, pushed for improved public services and fought to enact new legislation. Dolores Huerta wanted to form an organization that fought of the interests of the farm workers. While continuing to work at CSO Dolores Huerta founded and organized the Agricultural Workers Association in 1960. Dolores Huerta was key in organizing citizenship requirements removed from pension, and public assistance programs. She also was instrumental in passage of legislation allowing voters the right to vote in Spanish, and the right of individuals to take the driver’s license examination in their native language. Dolores Huerta moved on to working with Cesar Chavez. Dolores was the main person at National Farm Workers Association (“NFWA”) who negotiated with employers and organized boycotts, strikes, demonstrations and marches for the farm workers.
During her first term in congress, Chisholm hired an all-female staff and spoke out for civil rights, women’s rights, the poor and against the Vietnam War. In 1970 she was elected to a second term.
Margaret Chase Smith began her political career when a woman in Congress was a rarity. She won her first seat in the US House after the death of her husband in 1940. In 1949, Smith won a seat in the United States Senate and became the first woman to be in both houses of the Congress . At this time, the Senate floor did not have a woman’s restroom . However, Smith refused to believe that her gender made a difference in her career in politics .
...ary of labor in 1933, and she and Suzanna packed their things to go to Washington D.C. “On March 4th, 1933, Frances was sworn in as the first woman to serve in the United States cabinet” Schiff says. This was an astonishing moment. Frances was not only the first female cabinet member; she was the only secretary of labor to hold the job for 12 years.
Shirley Chisholm was a crucial figure in Black politics, and the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She defeated civil rights leader James Farmer on November 5, 1968, and served 7 terms in the House of Representatives till 1982. Also, she was the first woman and person of color to run for President. Chisholm is a model of independence and honesty and has championed several issues including civil rights, aid for the poor, and women 's rights.
This paper will discuss the many unique aspects of Oakland, California. Divided into five major parts, Oakland is a very diverse city. The five major parts include: Downtown Oakland which is located in the heart of the city, East Oakland which consists of the majority of the city, West Oakland, North Oakland, and the Oakland hills where the terrain is quite different from other parts of the city. While many may perceive the population to mainly consist of African Americans and Whites, there is a significant growing population of Latinos, and Asians. The topics covered in this paper will shed light on the city of Oakland itself, and discuss the unique city that it is. I will also give my personal experience and perception on the city, after living there for 16 years of my life.
In the early 1900’s, Theodore Roosevelt took office after McKinley was assassinated. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only turmoil at the time. A ship with rats infected with bubonic plague started the first plague epidemic in the continental U.S. Survivors of the plague believed that the corpses were still contaminated, so all burials were banned within San Francisco. Fifteen blocks of China Town were quarantined because the Chinese were blamed to be the cause of leprous, small pox, and malaria. Fortunately, the plague was finally eradicated by 1905. The Bay area enjoyed success and growth from its formation during the gold rush of 1849 until the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
Alejandrino, Simon V. Gentrification in San Francisco's Mission District: Indicators and Policy Recommendations. University of California at Berkeley, 2000.