2. The country and the city
episode one
On September 7th, 1609 Hudson sailed in search on the New
West passage and instead found what was to become the finest
harbor in the Atlantic Ocean.
New Amsterdam, as it was first
called, was founded by the Dutch
in 1624 to make money trading
furs. The city would test the
boundaries of society.
Immigration, unionization,
industrialization and the blending
of races and cultures pushed the
mixing of disparities to new limits.
3. The country and the city
episode one
In 1624 the Dutch West India Company settled and immediately
built the structures that would become what we now call the
“Bronx” and Broadway. Through expansion the Native Indians
were pushed away and eliminated. In 1664 the English took over
without any battle conflict at the request on the cities
inhabitants and renamed the colony New York.
4. The country and the city
episode one
The city remained diverse and difficult to
govern. Slavery, taxes, and politics,
provided a constant source of conflict. In
time the grid street layout would provide
a stationary foundation that would help
hold together such a hectic city.
The Erie canal build there was one
of the greatest engineering feats of
the time, and cut the transport time
for goods from weeks to mere days.
This would cement New York’s
position as one of the greatest
economic cities in the world.
5. City of tomorrow
Episode six
The upward and outward rise that New York saw during the
1920’s had seemed limitless. But after the crash in 1929
depression hit hard in the city. Nationwide unemployment went
from 2-13 million and one out of 3 people lost their jobs in the
city. Mayor Jimmy Walker resigned in light of embezzlement
charges.
Fiorello La Guardia became
mayor in 1933 when New York
was at its worst. Within weeks
the change he would bring
became evident. He was to
reform the city.
6. City of tomorrow
Episode six
La Guardia This team had greatly
teamed up with improved the city but
master builder
Robert Moses suffering still plagued areas
and together such as Harlem, which was
they built new devastated by the
parks, schools, beaches and depression.
remade roads for the cities. The
construction of highways for
automobiles was criticized by
many. Moses’s rise to power was
spotted with the cities belief that
he loved the public, but hated
the people.
7. City of tomorrow
Episode six
Race discrimination got worse in New York during this period.
Harlem had only 2 playgrounds built by Moses while areas in
white neighborhoods had more than 30. White men desperate
for jobs took those that normally only Africa Americans were
taking. Housing areas with Africa Americans were “redlined”. The
1930’s in Harlem took the community from an ethic place and
changed it into a ghetto slum. New York was remapped and
rebuilt in order to solve the economic crisis at the expense of the
black neighborhood. Riots resulted out of this tension. La
Guardia felt that the causes of the situation the African
Americans were in, was beyond his control.
The New York Fair ended in bankruptcy as WWII begun.
8. A merger that puts new York
on top
• AOL / Time Warner merger could help reverse the erosion of once
unquestioned position of New York as economic and cultural
world center. This merger could be another important decision,
such as building the Erie canal and “triangle trade”, made by its
leaders that will ensure domination the economy.
• The new information economy undermines some of the reasons
New York came to power in the first place such as its geographic
location, and several companies on the West coast, such as Intel
and Yahoo pose threats.
Unless the West settles differences or units that New York will end
up on top on and emerge as the "capital of the next American
century."
9. The city in the land of the dollar
American cities are not laid out as are other cities.
• They lack a defined center.
• Are socially fragmented and recklessly entrepreneurial.
• And heavily rely on cars for transport. But Why???
Nineteenth century
expansion spurred economic
growth in cities. Chicago
proves a perfect example of
this, popping up almost
overnight after the
development of the railroad.
10. The city in the land of the dollar
New technologies were used in the construction of American
cities. Telephones, electric lights, and cable cars were at the
forefront of design rather than classic esthetic appeal.
One of the more influential new technologies was the
development of the elevator, which allowed (literally) for
modern American cities to reach new heights.
Cities became compact. High standards when it came to fire
codes and outlandish prices for land within the city loop meant
most residents would live outside the city, and commute for
work. Once rural land around Chicago became one of the first
American suburban communities.
11. The city in the land of the dollar
Within the city its self was placed a park system to counter
balance the congestion of the urban city. Individual architects
leave their marks upon American cities such as Daniel Burnham
and John Root. Many city centers were inspired by the
Columbian Exposition and built civic centers and libraries at town
center in that style.
