Chicago

In Chicago, continuous race riots occurred for a week or so during the summer of 1919. As a large and highly industrious city, Chicago became central to American modernization and to the production of goods and their transportation. As such, the hub of activity occurring in the city led to its attracting workers from all over the world, who brought their families in pursuit of a better life. Chicago therefore welcomed black migrants from the South, freed blacks from all over America, white immigrants from places like Ireland and Lithuania, and white industrious people from all over the country. The blend of cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and political views led to Chicago being a highly diverse city, but also highly heterogeneous: the ethnic, religious, and other divisions present within its population were reflected in the city's geography and created informal boundaries all across its streets. As a result, when John...