World History Project directions and contract

I pledged this contract and read the directions. I am doing research on Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Browns Ferry incident.

This is a picture from Walker Evans. I chose this picture because I believe it displays the more significant elements of life after the depression like tenacious poverty that coexists with sporadic bursts of economic health for some. You can tell that people were still in poverty by the fact that the second floor windows are blown out. Another clue is that the ladies are sitting outside rather than inside possibly due to the fact that there was no air conditioner hence more poverty. You can see some of the riches people had with the car parked right in front. I did find it a little odd where the car was placed in this picture, it is surrounded by old buildings so I'm guessing it means that someone spent too much on a car and not enough on an apartment.

The Great Migration

When the topic of "The Great Migration" arises, you would most likely think of a bunch of African Americans running from one end of the U.S. to the other, and you would be correct! The Great Migration was African American migration from the south to the north sometime after W.W. 1 and ending around the time of the Great Depression. This was roughly Between 1910-1930. 1.5 million Southern blacks moved to cities. Chicago's black population grew by over 140%; Cleveland's by over 300%; and Detroit's by over 600%, found this information here.

African Americans migrated for numerous reasons. Some wanted to see the country that they had inherited, formerly having been forbidden to do so due to slavery. Others were in search of their long lost family members, often on search of rumors that took them all across the U.S.. Most of the African Americans, although, migrated to the north mainly to keep their wages high to take care of themselves or their families. I read this on a newspaper from avl.
(children in line for the movies in Chicago)
In search of other primary sources i came across letters that were sent to northern newspaper companies and what i came across was extremely touching and informative. A girl of 17 years old and in the 8th grade of Know Academy in Texas (weird...) writes to the Chicago newspapers, in her significantly broken english, to offer them her skills which include washing, cooking, nursing, getting groceries, and cleaning. This tells me that most African American kids were not as educated as they should be and that they can hardly go to school and have any money left over for their parents to live off of, hence why this girl writes that she had to quit school because of insufficient money. "Dear Sir: I am a reader of the Chicago Defender I think it is one of the Most Wonderful Papers of our race printed. Sirs I am writeing to see if You all will please get me a job. And Sir I can wash dishes, wash iron nursing work in groceries and dry good stores. Just any of these I can do. Sir, who so ever you get the job from please tell them to send me a ticket and I will pay them. When I get their as I have not got enough money to pay my way. I am a girl of 17 years old and in the 8 grade at Knox Academy School. But on account of not having money enough I had to stop school. Sir I will thank you all with all my heart. May God Bless you all. Please answer in return mail. * * * PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 5/5th/17"


Later on during my research, i found a book called "Warmth of other suns" by Isabel Wilkerson. While researching her work, i came across an NPR website that explains more on how and why she decided to write this book. I learned that the Great Migration was the first time that the servant class of America ever did something without asking. There was no set date for African Americans to migrate north, they did so because of their needs and desires, all by themselves. This source seems trustworthy because Isabel's parents were actually a part of the Great Migration!

The journey north, to The Promise Land, was not without its sacrifices. Many families that desired to go north for a better life could not do so as a family. The train tickets to the north were very expensive relative to the wages that the family got and so only one family member would take the journey to the north in hopes of gaining enough money to send to the rest of the family to join him in the north. Most often, the woman of the family would go north as there were more opportunities for her. The image below is the same website i got this information.

Much of the African Americans that moved to the north were southern coal miners, about 1/4 of migrants were from the agriculture section. Most that successfully arrived in the south could only afford apartment slums. Unfortunately, African Americans still could not escape racism in the North. Having escaped form beatings and lynchings in the South, new migrants to the North were looked down upon for their "country" manners. Most African Americans were segregated into the ghettos and faced many urban life obstacles. I found this information on this website. Having done this topic, i have learned a lot of information on The Great Migration than i started which is a good sign of progress!

The Great War Songs

I looked up songs from the Great War Archive because it interests me how the soldiers entertain themselves and yet give us information within a song. Just from this song, i learned that the soldiers resolve to drinking to relieve some of the stress that the War causes them. in that song, he is obviously wanting the alcohol to go to his head to that he doesn't feel so stressed and is asking to show the way home, obviously stating that the war has caused mental problems for these soldiers. He says hes tired and wants to go to bed meaning that his life is in the trenches and is not very comfortable at all, tiring him out and making soldiers nostalgic for home. Most soldiers wrote songs to pass the time by.

The Great White Fleet "Dump Ground"

While i was searching for information on the "Great White Fleet" i came across this (something that was already shown in class) and it seemed very useful. It explains in pictures where the sailors of the Great White Fleet stopped and what they did and got from those places. It was helpful in giving me ideas of postcards such as cards from sydney with kangeroos (which was one of the prizes given to thje sailors when they stopped in sydney). It also talks about the role of Teddy Roosevelt in the initial launch of the ships. Another story like this one had a lot of background story behind the reasons why the fleet was launched and what specifically happened at their stops. And this site tells me more about the details of the launch of the fleet like how many people were there and what the ships were like, more of a diary.

What i learned

Having looked at all of these projects, I learned that crime was bad for the people but good for the economy. In that, much of the money that people had was distributed through the mafia who bootlegged alcohol while trying to bypass the Prohibition Act. Immigrants coming in to the U.S. sought out firefighting jobs because of its job security and its ease to hire the middle class. The “firefighting culture” began who were catholic.  I later learned from Elliot that baseball games could be betted on.

Electricity Research Project

People have always assumed that Benjamin Franklin “invented” electricity. Electricity is a force of nature just like tornado, dust storm, or even the northern lights. In fact, electricity has always been around since it is a natural reaction between the flow of charged ions (electrons) of the sky and the ground. This kind of electricity, static electricity, was first discovered when Greek philosophers observed that when amber is rubbed against cloth, lightweight objects will stick to it. Now it is up to the 19^Th century inventor to harness and use the abundant power of electricity to make lives easier for centuries to come.

Originally, the use large-scale electricity began in 1895 when a dam was built over the powerful flowing waters of the Niagara Falls. This electricity was used locally for the manufacture of aluminum and carborundum. The next year, the dam generated 1,100 more volts which was transmitted twenty miles by wire to the city of Buffalo, where it was used for lighting and street cars. I learned that there were a few corporations of general electricity such as The General Electric Co. of Schenectady and Westinghouse electric Mfg. Co. of Pittsburgh were the only electric companies that offered power to industries therefore making a complete monopoly possible.

As companies grew, so did the demand for more electricity and since there was an infinite amount of electricity to be harnessed, the public soon began to experience electricity. Around the 1912's, Thomas Edison released his ideas of an electric light bulb to the public which became and instant advertising point. Immediately, plans were laid out, drawing in customers by telling people that the cost of electricity was lower than it had ever been and that it has many benefits.  Around the time of 1915's and 1920's, electricity was advertised to express that electricity was the popular thing that everyone should want and no house was complete without some sort of electrical appliance. The first couple of popular and efficient electric appliances were arguably the toaster, iron, and percolator. Although the prices for the electric appliances were rising, the cost of electricity was falling.

There were many new appliances and advances made upon electricity after the light bulb, toaster, and iron. Some of the great achievements include exploring the magnetic and energy flux, figuring out the composition of ions, and even learning about the ultraviolet light. More civil things include the invention of the electric vacuum cleaner which helped most, if not all, housewives having to clean the house. Other great inventions include the table grill, the electric candlestick, and the all important electric washer. Without these new tools, Women in the 1900's would have a very difficult time cleaning and cooking. Electricity had brought them leisure.

In conclusion, electricity was a very important factor in shaping America into what it is today, one of the most advanced countries in the world in electronics. Electricity not only brought leisure but also enabled jobs such as enginieering and computer sciences. Without electricity, America would most definately have more unemployed people than now. Furthermore, i believe that unlike oil, electricity was a great source of energy that well last as long as humanity will.