20th and 21st centuries Chicago

1 20th , 21st centuries

1.1 1900 1939
1.2 1940 1979
1.3 1980 present

20th , 21st centuries

men outside soup kitchen in great depression (1931)


1900 1939

during world war , 1920s there major expansion in industry. availability of jobs attracted african-americans southern united states. between 1910 , 1930, african-american population of chicago increased dramatically, 44,103 233,903. great migration had immense cultural impact, called chicago black renaissance, part of new negro movement, in art, literature, , music. continuing racial tensions , violence, such chicago race riot of 1919, occurred.

the ratification of 18th amendment constitution in 1919 made production , sale (including exportation) of alcoholic beverages illegal in united states. ushered in beginning of known gangster era, time spans 1919 until 1933 when prohibition repealed. 1920s saw gangsters, including al capone, dion o banion, bugs moran , tony accardo battle law enforcement , each other on streets of chicago during prohibition era. chicago location of infamous st. valentine s day massacre in 1929, when al capone sent men gun down members of rival gang, north side, led bugs moran.

in 1924, chicago first american city have homosexual-rights organization, society human rights. organization produced first american publication homosexuals, friendship , freedom. police , political pressure caused organization disband.

in 1933, chicago mayor anton cermak fatally wounded in miami, florida during failed assassination attempt on president-elect franklin d. roosevelt. in 1933 , 1934, city celebrated centennial hosting century of progress international exposition worlds fair. theme of fair technological innovation on century since chicago s founding.

1940 1979

on december 2, 1942, physicist enrico fermi conducted world s first controlled nuclear reaction @ university of chicago part of top-secret manhattan project. led creation of atomic bomb united states, used in world war ii in 1945.

mayor richard j. daley, democrat, elected in 1955, in era of machine politics. in 1956 city conducted last major expansion when annexed land under o hare airport. small portion of dupage county lies within city limits.

by 1960s, white residents in several neighborhoods left city suburban areas – in many northern american cities, process known white flight – african americans continued move beyond black belt. while home loan discriminatory redlining against blacks continued, real estate industry practiced became known blockbusting, changing racial composition of whole neighborhoods. structural changes in industry, such globalization , job outsourcing, caused heavy job losses lower skilled workers. in 1966, martin luther king jr. , albert raby led chicago freedom movement, culminated in agreements between mayor richard j. daley , movement leaders.

protesters in grant park outside 1968 democratic national convention.

two years later, city hosted tumultuous 1968 democratic national convention, featured physical confrontations both inside , outside convention hall, anti-war protesters, journalists , bystanders being beaten police. major construction projects, including sears tower (now known willis tower, in 1974 became world s tallest building), university of illinois @ chicago, mccormick place, , o hare international airport, undertaken during richard j. daley s tenure. in 1979, jane byrne, city s first female mayor, elected. helped reduce crime in cabrini-green housing project , led chicago s school system out of financial crisis.

1980 present

in 1983, harold washington became first black mayor of city of chicago. washington s first term in office directed attention poor , neglected minority neighborhoods. re‑elected in 1987 died of heart attack after. washington succeeded 6th ward alderman eugene sawyer, elected chicago city council , served until special election.

richard m. daley, son of richard j. daley, elected in 1989. accomplishments included improvements parks , creating incentives sustainable development, closing meigs field in middle of night , destroying runways. after standing re-election 5 times, , becoming chicago s longest serving mayor, richard m. daley declined run seventh term.

in 1992, construction accident near kinzie street bridge produced breach connecting chicago river tunnel below, part of abandoned freight tunnel system extending throughout downtown loop district. tunnels filled 250 million gallons (1,000,000 m) of water, affecting buildings throughout district , forcing shutdown of electrical power. area shut down 3 days , buildings did not reopen weeks; losses estimated @ $1.95 billion.

on february 23, 2011, former illinois congressman , white house chief of staff, rahm emanuel, won mayoral election, after defeating challenges not chicago resident , beating 5 rivals 55 percent of vote, , sworn in mayor on may 16, 2011.