HIST 100: Engineering The Past

the fair

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Near the end of this section of the reading, Erik Larson writes of the “turmoil and grief engulf[ing] Chicago.” “The old world,” he notes, “was passing” (121-22). Based on what you’ve read so far, what do you think was the most significant issue or tension in the United States in the 1880s and 1890s, and why? Cite evidence from the book to support your choice

– the expansion of availability to other counties and cultures

“New York was the nation’s capital of cultural and social refinement, and it’s leading citizens and newspapers never let Chicago forget it” (16). not only that but the landscape was drastically changing due to  growth in the cities because of immigration

why did

  • i think he chose the two stories to show a more rounded view of the country during this period. becoming macro and micro (big and smaller perspectives) though all in all provide a compelling lens for the past. True , the epitaph of North Americas first serial killer of the time is interesting enough but that would not have garnered enough reason to read this for a historical engineering class. not only does the inclusion of the two stories make this a relevant but also fascinating,

Engineering

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Engineering as i’ve learned it it the building and construction of structures within societies. It can be irrigation cannals with the Tono O’ohan society of the southern states or the grand dome of Hagia Sopheia in Turkey. Engineering is not just about building houses and it can be as profound as centralizing structure from which a society is developed for example with the Incans.  I think engineering is often over looked with history but the way buildings and structures are built, the materials used and thier appearance are incredibly powerful clues to the past of societies. And by observing this we can also learn how to preserve these historical pieces and improve or own structures. When researches studied Hagia Sophea for structural integrity they found the the materials and composition was extremely well suited for the earthquake frequented area which has allowed for it to endure thousands of years.  After testing a model of structure in simulations they found that the largest recorded earthquake in man kind would have to be tripled to destroy the structure. I think this kind of discovery is incredibly insightful not only in the countries history but how valuable knowledge of the past can be in the present.

Native water use

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The America’s were founded on the lands of Native American peoples. It goes without dispute that here is not one section of land we currently claimed that was once indigenous territory. We are founded on taken land and historically and currently we do not value or compensate these groups adequately if at all.  the Tohono O’dham people are an interesting case to look at with this in mind.

Legally speaking has there been effort shown to compensate the tribe? They do have a college on the terrirory that is very cheap for identified Tohono O’odham indians to peruse secondary education. They have received a large sum  of land totaling 3 mill. acres of land to the west of Tuscon , Az.  and  have been given more groundwater rights which enables their community to run more sucessfully.

Does this legally free the U.S from the Tohono O’odham after the u.s. annexed most of their lands in 1853? Should the U.S. have to be put in such a position for decisions such as the Gadsen purchase that was made so many decades ago?

I think we have to understand that this is not just a group of people being upset that they can’t have something. Ethiclly, its about a group of peoples who history is fundamentally founded in the land and resources of the area. Who, for almost their entire exsistance as a people have lived in that one area and then another group of peoples comes along. Gives them a PIECE of their own land and says the rest is now theirs along with the resources it contains. The most certainly is not fair. And then to survive in the new landscape created for them the indigenous people who are outnumbered by the white settlers have to adhere to another governments laws. Instinctively it’s easy to say but that was so long ago or but i, personally didn’t take their land away i don’t know why its such a big deal.

the big deal is that to say that the Tohono O’odhan are compensated already is to deny that as a separate people they suffered or continue to suffer the effects of losing their autonomy as a people. In the reading it talks about the high rates of poverty, low rates of secondary education and prevalence of crime. These are not unique to this reservation, across the bored this is a symptom of reservations no matter the location. Ethically speaking i have no clue how the U.S. government could improve the situation but i can say without hesitation it will done be done easily or quickly.