Research Paper Outline

1.       Thesis: Though, the Great fire brought devastation to the city of Chicago by destroying its way of life and putting a halt to the city’s rapid growth, it also began a surge for infrastructural innovations and political reassurance, which solidified Chicago as a great city, and influences our modern world.        

a.       Main Idea/Argument: Chicago before the fire, was a bustling city that could not be overlooked and was on its way to becoming the strongest city in the western world.

                                                               i.      Chicago was defined as a fast pace city filled with luxuries and elements of change. (Cook)

                                                             ii.      Previously to the Chicago fire, the city could not be forgotten and was filled with a growing population that was astonishing. (Cook)

                                                            iii.      Chicago was large and rapidly growing because of its position near Lake Michigan which was an important trade route. (<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1854.html>)

b.      Transition: Though Chicago was a rapidly growing city, the means by which it grew were not efficient enough to keep the city safe, which in turn started the fire that could not be stopped.

                                                               i.      The combination of a drought, along with the fact that the structures in Chicago were built with wood, were major components in sparking the fire. (Helmer)

                                                             ii.      It is theorized that the fire began in the O’ Leary barn, by a cow who kicked over a lantern. (Debartolo)

                                                            iii.      During this time, Chicago suffered from 20 fires a day due to the dryness of the weather along with the wooden structures. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                           iv.      Chicago’s fire department was understaffed and misinformed about the fire which caused the fire to spread rapidly. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

c.       Transition: During the Fire, people went into frenzy, not knowing what was to come.

                                                               i.      It was extremely hard to flee the city, due to the fact that everything was made of wood, therefore everything was on fire. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                             ii.      The fire, left devastation around the city, separating families and leaving people penniless. (http://www.chicagohs.org/history/fire.html.)

                                                            iii.      As the fire surged through the city that night, all that could be heard were the cries of the people. (Root)

                                                           iv.      Subtopic:  Though some buildings were destroyed during the fire, some were fortunate enough to survive which helped in restoring the city. (connection to Holy Family)

1.       Among the buildings that did survive the fire was the Water tower place, which has become a relic. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

2.       The city was able to be rebuilt due to the salvation of its industries/ trade routes and also the railways. (Schons)

d.      Transition: Chicago was devastated by the Great Fire, because it destroyed the city’s growing infrastructure and put a halt to the economical growth.

                                                               i.      The loss from the fire, was an estimated $18,000 buildings priced at $190,000, along with 300 lives lost. (Smith)

                                                             ii.      In many places, due to the fire, the ruins stretched for miles, and leveled out the status of each neighborhood. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                            iii.      As the fire surged through 34 blocks in the city it destroyed, homes, bridges, and left residents homeless. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

e.      Transition: Though the Great Fire in Chicago caused many devastating damages, it also pushed for infrastructural along with political innovations.

                                                               i.      The Chicago fire, which burned for two days, spurred a growth in infrastructural advancements. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

                                                             ii.      The Great Rebuilding of Chicago, included efforts and plans that were set, in order to restore the city. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                            iii.      After the fire, there laws passed, which included that the new ways that were created for the new buildings in Chicago should always be used. (Schons)

2.     Conclusion: Though, the Great fire brought devastation to the city of Chicago by destroying its way of life and putting a halt to the city’s rapid growth, it also began a surge for infrastructural innovations and political reassurance, which solidified Chicago as a great city, and influences our modern world.