I think the biggest issue during this time frame in America was the economy. “On Tuesday a large bank failed in Kansas City.” (pg108) When banks can not sustain themselves anymore, it is usually tied to how the economy is doing. With less people saving money, the banks have to give out more money than they take in, also people stop paying on the loans they might of taken out.  Also because of the economy going into a depression, “There was labor unrest.”(108) Labor unions gained alot of ground during this era in history. Fighting for fair wages and 8 hour work shifts. During the battle for better wages lots of people would go on strike i.e. not working/not making money.  Also seemed like Chicago was just overall dirty. “No one had forgotten how in 1885, fouled water had ignited an outbreak of cholera and typhoid that killed 10% of the city’s population.”(109)

 

I think that Larson decided to intertwine the 2 stories because he wanted to sell more books. While some people might find the building of the Chicago World Fair very interesting. The story of how “the first serial killer” used the World Fair to lure and attract beautiful women to there death is a much better selling point.