New York has often been the subject of much admiration due to its cultural diversity and distinguished historical landmarks. Hence, it has become more than a mere place, more than the epicenter of one of the great nations or even a socioeconomic hub. Particularly since the mid-nineteenth century, it has stimulated both the literary and artistic realm to an astonishing level. Both these elements are reciprocal as an extensive portion of the American history has been inscribed into its innards. Therefore, in order to truly understand its beauty, one must understand its evolution during its culminate era. The critical period which lead to the evolution of New York from a port city to an industrial metropolis can be attributed to its social and …show more content…
Horse draw taxis, coaches and steam ferries were exclusively for the rich. Hence the railroads of the 1840s were the foundation of what would later be the main commuter lines. This evolution in public means of transport allowed New York to magnify its settlement radius. Prior to these developments the various businesses and their practices began creating a novel urban element in the form of the modern downtown. Essentially the element of spatial planning was introduced into the different areas of New York. The Warehouse area expanded in accordance with the railway system while the multi usage merchant counting houses divided and sub divided into wholesale and commission merchants. From these sprouted all sorts of professions: commodity traders, bankers, insurance and real estate, importers, lawyers and stock brokers. Leading to multi-storied office buildings downtown. This also gave rise to hotel which capitalized on this expiation both in terms of trade and infrastructure. Stores also arose on the neighbouring streets to cater for the daily routine of the blue collar workers. Ultimately creating the base of the modern downtown and evolving into skyscraper offices buildings, high rise apartments and downtown department stores. Only the energy production factories required large spaces while the residential and commercial buildings all …show more content…
These technological advances allowed New York to avoid becoming a stagnant city. Additionally, it allowed the city to cater with inner crowding and to carry the downtown workers and shoppers to their homes. These public carriers allowed the industrial metropolis to spread outwards in a rough social geometry of poor and African Americans in the old inner sections of the city. the working class in multiple housing along the transit lines, and the middle class in single and double homes
In the essay, “Boston and New York in the Eighteenth Century” by author Pauline Maier describes the duties and personalities to the American colonial cities and what made New York and Boston so exclusive and distinctive from one another by the point of the eighteenth century. Maier comes to an end of the cities that are being observed and concentrated functions of the Boston and New York were the local capitals and important to the cultural centers of newspapers and pamphlets being advertised, deliberated, and delivered. In the seventeenth century, the Boston merchants had encountered with their colony’s Puritan leaders to separate Massachusetts from the Old World contamination to verify the demands of commerce. New York and Boston have their differences not only in the people or legislation, but the feelings and character that surrounded culture. They did a request of the characteristics of how they establish and continue over the time also their effects in the American history.
Horsmanden’s journal provides a wealth of information about eighteenth century New York if one is willing to analyze it critically and ignore the bias present in it. If one does this they catch fascinating glimpses of a divided world, one where people are partitioned by race, economic status, homeland and religion. A world filled with fear and suspicion caused by the tension inherent within such societal division. The same tensions that either gave rise to a massive conspiracy to destroy the town of New York or gave credence to a nightmare constructed by the minds of the people and fed by individuals’ self-serving nature. Regardless, eighteenth century New York was a troubled place and Horsmanden’s Journal of the Proceedings gives us a partial but valuable insight to the lives and interactions of colonial New York’s peoples.
Wilentz, Sean. Chants Democratic: New York City and the Rise of the American Working Class, 1788-1850. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. xvii + 396pp. Index, appendix, bibliographical essay, illustrations
Hickey, Andrew S. The story of Kingston, First Capital of New York State 1609-1952: New York, Stratford House, 1952
Lemak, Jennifer A. "Albany, New York and the Great Migration" The Free Library 01 January
The island of Manhattan was consolidated into the greater New York City in 1898. Because of this the city was transformed from a nineteenth century seaport with cobblestone streets into a twentieth century metropolis of skyscrapers and subways. The artists of the Ashcan movement saw this changing society in human terms. They saw this in a light which depicted the interaction of so many different cultures which were being thrust together. They documented these changes on a level which the ordinary person could understand. Because of the Ashcan School we have a picture of society which one really cannot understand amidst the overpowering spectacle of overpowering buildings and increasing technology.4
Canals, steamboats, and railroads allowed for faster travel of exports and the creation of bigger cities. The invention of the Pony Express, specialized regions, and infrastructure permitted Americans to keep in touch over long distances and the creation of market towns, which inspired a deep, national connection from all corners of the country. The giant leap made by the Transportation Revolution changed America greatly in ways of their economy and
Dumenil, Lynn, ed. "New York City." The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History. N.p.: Oxford UP, 2012. Oxford Reference. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
The railroad played a major role in forging the history of many countries including the United States of America. The railroad began to bring people to places that before then where only accessed by weeks of dangerous travel over harsh and deadly terrain. The industrial revolution had ushered in a completely new era. The new era was one of mass production, supply and demand, and new requirements of industry. The growth of industry had created new demands for transit, trade, and more robust supply lines. The railroad boom across the U.S. had spread and proceeded to grow the economy quickly therefore, many people began using the rail roads just as quickly. The rail market continued to grow and by the 1860’s all major cities within the United States were connected by rail.
Following the steps of the Dutch who first came to Lower Manhattan, we embarked on the Staten Island Ferry on Sunday, Nov. 10, and we could see one of the world’s most famous figures: The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French to the U.S. that was put in such a strategic and historic place. The view of the green icon from the boat that was transporting passengers from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan, with the skyline of New Jersey in the background, and New York to our right, was a delightful experience. Not one person on the ferry was like the other, one could see people from all over the world, joined together and representing New York’s diversity, trying to relive the same experience that the Dutch had centuries ago. Some people take this ride every day for work; others were simply tourists or inhabitants of the New York metropolitan area.
Gentrification is the keystone for the progression of the basic standards of living in urban environments. A prerequisite for the advancement of urban areas is an improvement of housing, dining, and general social services. One of the most revered and illustrious examples of gentrification in an urban setting is New York City. New York City’s gentrification projects are seen as a model for gentrification for not only America, but also the rest of the world. Gentrification in an urban setting is much more complex and has deeper ramifications than seen at face value. With changes in housing, modifications to the quality of life in the surrounding area must be considered as well. Constant lifestyle changes in a community can push out life-time
Railroads were America’s first big business and contributed a great deal towards advancing industrialization. Beginning in the early 1870's, railroad construction in the United States expanded substantially. Before the year 1871, approximately fourty-five thousand miles of track had been laid. Up until the 1900's another one-hundred and seventy thousand miles were added to the nation's growing railroad system. This growth came about due to the erection of transcontinental railroads. Railroads supplied cities and towns with food, fuel, materials, and access to markets. The railroad system made way for an economic prosperity. The railroad system helped to build the physical growth of cities and towns. It even became another means of communication. Most importantly, it helped to produce a second
To conclude, New York City is one of the most densely inhabited metropolitan collection of cultural diversity in the world in which structures our temperament. New York City applies an imperative influence upon trade, economics, mass communication, skill, style, and education. Frequently it is known that New York City is a crucial core for global politics and has been depicted as the ethnic headquarters of the globe. New York City has been known as a melting pot of culture and as this prolong throughout towards the current day, the city has become ornate with distinct cultures. You can easily experience many aspects of different cultures by going to the different ethnic neighborhoods that exist throughout the city.
Jackson, Kenneth T. The Encyclopedia of New York City. 2nd ed. New York City: Yale University Press, 2010.
Without a doubt, Times Square in New York City is a unique experience, but the image created by TV and movies does not show the gloominess that accompanies the euphoria of being in the Big Apple. The atmosphere is so exhilarating and exciting, you don’t even know what to do for a few minutes, but it is tinged with the bitter reality that sadness and melancholy also trail closely behind the positive. With most, if not all, of your senses being stimulated – sometimes all at once – Times Square creates a memory that will surely be cherished, and haunt you for the rest of your life.