Research Paper on:
Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and Multiculturalism

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
different from the Americans. Today we are essentially spoiled in our knowledge of other cultures and as such we often take it for granted, forgetting that our ancestors had no  concept of the diverse nature of other cultures. With the growth in international experiences, however, things slowly began to change and in Chicago during the year 1893 the Worlds Fair  saw a powerful introduction of various ethnic displays in the Columbian Exhibit. Unfortunately, due to a great deal of ignorance, most of the objects on display did little to further  cultural relations as they were, more often than not, displays which clearly spoke of stereotypical and racist attitudes. In the following paper we examine some of these realities concerning the  Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. The Worlds Fair "The Worlds Columbian Exposition was an extremely popular and influential social and cultural event. The Directory (to simplify, we will  use this term to mean both the local Directory and the national Commission) of the Fair had, if not a specific agenda, a set of goals and ideals it wished  to promote through its architecture, approved guidebooks, and spatial arrangement" (Rose, 1996). Considering the immensity of this fair it comes as no surprise to understand that "Hundreds of accounts, thousands  of exhibits, and millions of visitors would produce very different conclusions" (Rose, 1996). As such many people ask "How was the message of the official Fair--the dreams of unity,  the assertion of culture and education, and most importantly the valorization of American technology and commerce--actually received?....The reactions of visitors to the Exposition and its message is a useful way  to gauge Americas psyche in the midst of a decade of vast changes, but also to garner insight from their reactions for our own decade of vast changes" (Rose, 1996).