October 8 - The Great Chicago Fire Began

This Day in History: 8 October 2020

 

8 October 1871

 

149 years ago, today, the Great Chicago Fire began. This blaze lasted two days and killed between 200 and 300 people, destroyed 17,450 buildings and left 100,000 homeless. It has been speculated that a cow kicked over a lantern in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary and started the fire. However, other theories believe that humans or even a comet may have been responsible. Dry weather and an abundance of wooden buildings, streets and sidewalks also made Chicago vulnerable to the fire. In 1870, the year before the fire, the city averaged two fires per day.

 

Despite the fire's widespread destruction, much of Chicago's physical infrastructure, including the water and sewage systems, remained intact. Reconstruction quickly began and initiated great economic growth, laying the foundation for a modern city with the world's first skyscrapers. By 1893, Chicago was a major economic and transportation hub with an estimated population of 1.5 million. The city attracted approximately half the US population in the same year, as they visited the World's Columbian Exposition. In 1997, the Chicago City Council declared Mrs. O'Leary and her cow as innocent. She turned into a recluse after the fire and died in 1895.

 

Want to find out more about the Great Chicago Fire? Click here for more information, or here for more about 'the O'Leary Legend'.

September 24 - The Trial for the Chicago Eight Opens

This Day in History: 24 September 2020

 

24 September 1969

 

51 years ago, today, the trial for the Chicago Eight opened. They were charged with initiating violent demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Initially, there were eight defendants, one of whom being Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers, who accused Judge Julius Hoffman of being a racist and demanded a separate trial. The seven other defendants did whatever they could to disrupt the trial through acts such as reading poetry and chanting Hare Krishna. While the jury was considering their verdict, Judge Hoffman held the defendants in contempt of the court for their behaviour. They were sentenced to up to 29 months in jail.

 

At the height of anti-war and civil rights movements, the Chicago Eight had organised protest marches and rock concerts at the Democratic National Convention. Clashes broke out between the protestors and police which escalated into full-scale rioting. The Chicago Eight were indicted for violating the Rap Brown Law, which made it illegal to cross state lines in order to riot. In 1970, the contempt charges were overturned on appeal on the basis that the judge was biased in his cultural and racial views. Before a different judge, some of the group were found guilty of a few charges but did not sentence any of them to jail or fines.

 

Want to find out more about the Chicago Eight? Click here for more information, or here for more about their trial.

Is Rahm Emanuel leaving his post?

There are rumours that Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, will leave his job in order to run for Mayor of Chicago. Richard Daley, the current mayor, is stepping down. The chief of staff role is a crucial one and Emanuel has been criticised for being too abrasive. The mid-term result may well mean that the Obama administration will have to work more closely with the Republicans so a different chief of staff may help. Here is the comment on it from the Telegraph, here Emanuel's background, and here is an overview of this important role. If he does resign, look out for assessments of his role so far.

Chicago and Arizona

Chicago City Council in a 45-0 vote approved a new gun ordinance after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the city's 28-year-old strict ban on handgun ownership was unconstitutional. At the end of June the Supreme Court ruling overturned the city's previous handgun ban. Although it was expected, the decision confirms the conservative view of the court on gun issues. Two years ago a similar decision was taken regarding Washington DC's gun laws despite this interfering with states' rights. Chicago has particular reason for concern on the issue as last month 164 people were murdered in the city, mainly by a gun. Here is the CNN report.
Meanwhile on another contentious issue... the US Government is taking Arizona to court to try to stop its controversial laws on illegal immigration. It is believed that its powers to stop and ask for identification will lead to racial profiling on a large scale as there is a large Hispanic community in the state. Mark Mardell sums it up well.
What is your view on these issues? Liberal Europeans misunderstanding America's priorities or American exceptionalism of the worst kind?