Free Essay - The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

The United States has been prone to fire for so many years. Wildfires are the most common, and they have affected so many states. The most affected states include California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Montana. These fires spread at a very high ad they have devastating effects on the community at large. Some effects of these fires include property loss, loss of lives, and destruction of the environment. Most of these fires are caused by human actions such as intentional acts of arson, burning of debris, campfires left unattended, and negligently discarded cigarettes. The main aim of this paper is to research the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, its cause as well as the effects that it had on society.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The Origin and Cause of the Fire

The Great Chicago Fire burned the American City of Chicago on 8th October to 10 in 1871. The fire is said to have started in the barn owned by Patrick and Catherine O’Leary. There have been too much speculation and theories on what caused the fire. However, the most famous tale is that Mrs. O'Leary's cow caused the fire by knocking over the lantern. Other people state that humans could have been responsible. They state that a group of men were gambling in the barn and knocked over the lantern while others believe that the fire was related to other fires in the Midwest that day. It is not yet clear on which theory should be believed. The fire was seen to be fuelled by various factors. An abundance of wooden buildings in Chicago at the time of the fire is one factor that made the fire spread at a great place. Dry conditions and southwest winds are other factors that led to the widespread of the fires. Most buildings also had tar or shingle roofs, which made them highly flammable. At the time of the fire, Chicago had only 185 fire-fighters. The fire-fighters were already exhausted at the time of the fire as it is reported that they had been dealing with small fires before it started.

What ended the Fire?

The Great Chicago fire ended on 10th October 1871. The fire came under control after it started raining, and this was great to the firefighters who had been working tirelessly to control the fire.

The Effects of the Fire

The Great Chicago Fire was seen to have devastating effects on the residents of Chicago. The fire affected all sectors of society. The following are some of the effects of the Chicago Fire.

Destruction of buildings; the Great Chicago Fire was seen to have catastrophic effects. It is estimated that a total of 17450 buildings were destroyed by the fire.Most buildings were made of wood, and they were therefore easily brought down by the fire. Even those that were made partially with iron could not withstand the fire.

Homelessness; over 100,000 people were left homeless by the fire. Most people had to set up semi-permanent homes or go live with their relatives in other cities that had not been affected by the fire. People had to start building their homes afresh after the fire.

Deaths; It is estimated that the fire killed about 300 people. The exact number of those that died during and after the fire as a result of the fire is not known.

Money loss; The Chicago Fire was seen to bring a lot of loss financially. It was estimated that the fire brought damages of about 200 billion dollars in 1871 currency. The money was estimated to be worth 3 billion dollars in 2007. Insurance firms also suffered huge losses as a result of the fire. Some people claimed compensation from the insurance firms. Some people who were lucky to have their documents were paid while others who had no proof were not paid.

Relief efforts were seen to come from all over the world. The relief came in the form of money, materials used in the reconstruction of the city, and some people even volunteered to help by providing free labor.

The Aftermath

The city was placed under Martial Law after the fire, and Joseph Medill was elected mayor to help in the reconstruction efforts. It was meant to protect the city from looting and violence. The mayor was supposed to implement strict rules and laws that were required to be followed during the building of houses to prevent such fires. Very few buildings from the burned city of Chicago are still standing today. They include the Chicago Water Tower, St. Michael’s Church, as well as the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station.Some of the buildings had been destroyed, but they were rebuilt using the surviving walls. Other things that were seen to remain intact included the transportation system.

Architects laid the foundation for a modern city with the world’s first skyscrapers, and the reconstruction efforts started immediately. The reconstruction efforts brought about growth both economically and population-wise. It can be noted that in 1871, at the time of the fire, the population of Chicago was approximately 324,000. Within nine years, the population increased and reached 500,000. By 1890, the city had a population of over 1 million people. In the 1890s, the city had developed and had become of places where people liked to visit. The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago in 1893. It was visited by approximately 27 million people showing that the city had risen from ashes to one of the best cities in the world.

New laws were put in place after the fire to prevent such disasters in the future. Buildings in Chicago were supposed to be constructed with fireproof materials. Such materials included limestone, bricks, stones, and marble.Chicagoans were also required to have fire insurance. However, the fire had left many people in Chicago poor, and they could not afford fireproof materials or the money to pay skilled masons. Many people ignored the laws and replaced stones with wood, and their buildings were also decorated to look attractive.

Help was seen to come from all parts of the world. Relief came in the form of money, food as well as clothing. One of the most notable donations that were made in Chicago is that of book donations. Before the fire, most libraries in Chicago were private, and people were required to pay membership fees so that they could access books. After the fire, the city council was seen to pass an ordinance to establish a free public library. It was known as the Chicago Public Library, and it received the first batch of books from the United Kingdom.

Many authors have continued the debate on the impact of the fire on Chicago's development. Most authors agree that if it were not for the fire, Chicago would not have been the second-largest city in the United States. It is seen that Chicago would have remained as a small metropolis and would not have developed much. If the fire had not occurred, there would be fewer skyscrapers in Chicago than those present today. Other authors suggest that the city would have continued to grow without the fire, and it would have done so through different plans.

Conclusion

The Great Chicago Fire is seen as the most famous fire in the history of America. The fire was seen to occur on 8th October to 10. Theories related to what started the fire have been discussed. Most people believe that the fire was started after Mrs. O’Leary’s cow knocked over the lantern. Dry weather conditions and an abundance of wooden buildings were seen to fuel the fire's spread in the city. The fire was seen to end on 10th October 1871 after it started raining, and it had so many effects on the locals. Most of the locals were left homeless, while damages that were approximated to be about 200 million dollars were incurred. The fire also caused deaths and destroyed a lot of buildings in Chicago. Finally, the fire was seen to have other impacts, such as the rise of a larger city dominated by skyscrapers and tall buildings that rose from the ashes.

Bibliography

Bennie, Paul. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Infobase Publishing, 2009.

Potter, Sean. "Retrospect: 8th October 1871: The Great Chicago Fire." Weatherwise: The Power, The Beauty, The Excitement 63, no. 5 (2010): 10-13.

Skarbek, Emily C. "The Chicago Fire of 1871: a bottom-up approach to disaster relief." Public Choice 160, no. 1-2 (2014): 155-180.

Smith, Carl. Urban Disorder And The Shape Of Belief: The Great Chicago Fire, The Haymarket Bomb, And The Model Town Of Pullman. University of Chicago Press, 2007.