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I can see a real parallel between the story of the United States and the story of its largest city which reflects its. So much of US history can be told from the point when NYC out populated its rivals, Boston and Philadephia, and out powered them as well as NYC became the focal point of the nation's shift westward with the completion of the Erie Canal.
the rise of the US in the early 20th century in its true arrival on the global scene was told in the rise of NYC during the same era. Gershwin's heart stirring and uplifting Rhapsody In Blue spoke in optimistic tones of both city and nation.And at the point when NYC came to be seen as "the world's greatest city" (circa 1950s?), the US was at the apex of its power.
thus the power and the glory of the United States gets played out in New York.
today, certainly in comparison to the dark days of the 1970's, NYC has been on the rise. Yet it would be hard to deny that, arguably for the first time, the paths of the US and NYC have diverged and the 21st century, unlike the 20th, would hardly ever be described as "the american century". indeed much of the world's focus has shifted from the west, Europe & North America, to the Far East and other regions which were once (for some half of a millennium) in the west's shadow.
Thus I am curious as to how people see the future of New York if, as I have asserted (IMHO) that the role of the US has in fact diverged from NYC's path and is projecting downward on the world scene. Simply put: can and will NYC maintain its status at the apex of the world power structure if the nation to which it is an integral part, both so tied to each other, no longer plays that dominant role that it did through much of the 20th century and into the 21st? How does, in fact, NYC function in a far less america-centric world?
for the record, I will fully admit that London has done quite well for itself under similar circumstances, but both London and New York, as well as Britain and the US, all face that shift of power to other parts of the world removed from the North Atlantic. so arguably London in fact may be in the same boat as New York.
So far this is the best thread I have read so far.
For most of the U.S history, NYC has directly affected America even before it was a nation and a bunch of 13 British colonies. At one point NYC was the capital of the country, and prior to that pivotal moments of the revolution war happened on the streets and country sides of would be NYC. NYC took off with the completion of the Erie Canal system slowly allowing the city to become a major Atlantic port and the economic engine of the new nation. Also NYC has been the scene of plenty of tragedy that affected the nation. During the Civil War many New York City residents started to harbor an anti war rhetoric which eventually turned into the largest and most deadly riot in America's history. The NYC draft riots sparked similar riots throughout the country. Triangle Shirt waist factory fire during the turn of the 20th century killed hundreds of women, this lead to new fire safety codes not only in NYC but nation wide. Lets not forget 9/11. And recently Hurricane Sandy which affected NYC and help push a national and international climate change agenda which is lead mainly by white liberals. Gay and feminist civil rights movements started out in NYC and spread nation wide. As you can see whatever affects NYC spreads to rest of the nation.
But how does the nation affect NYC? The nation affects NYC in plenty of ways, most notably economically and to a certain degree even politically and even culturally. Even though Wall Street is located in NYC, plenty of financial say comes out of Washington D.C. Low interest rates helped keep the cities real estate market hot pushing rents and property prices even more higher. Same could be said in other cities like D.C, SF and Boston. Also national policies can hurt NYC. I wasn't born then but President Ford told NYC to drop dead when NYC filed for bankruptcy. Federal government gave loans to whites allowing many to move to the suburbs and removing plenty of middle class folks out of the city. Union busting President Ronald Reagan which saw the decline of Union jobs nation wide. To President Clinton Urban Renewal act allowed for reinvestment in cities, but also helped push the need for gentrification. Also with deals such as Glasteagel and NAFTA, last rements of industrial jobs either moved out of NYC to down south or out of the country for good. Also the decline of certain regions of America is forcing plenty of young people to move to NYC out of college to find opportunity which puts locals in heated competition with outsiders for work.
During the early 20th century their was cracks evident in the British Empire. Same is being played out with the USA in the early 21st century with the global economic meltdown. Like the Spanish Empire of the 16th and 17th century, the USA spent way too much of its GDP on arms which is not sustainable in the long run of things to progress a nation forward, while roads need repairing, public schools need improving, and NASA becoming less and less unimportant. How does this plays out in NYC? Take a look at the housing projects which are federally funded, or the horrid mass transit system. Look at the city roads, filthy rivers that can give you pink eye. NYC is a great city, but its not the "sole" greatest city on earth! Now we live in a global world with many great cities such as Sydney, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Tokyo, Mexico City, London, Istanbul. Centuries before all it took was one city to dominate the world. London, Madrid, Venice, Constantinople, Baghdad, Rome, Alexandria, Athens, Ur. Back to the beginning of this paragraph. I believe that America will be a great power and have its super power status reduced by the middle of this century, however will be great power until the end of the century. Asia will probably be the dominant continent of this century with India, China and a resurgent Russia leading the way. A good example is trading centers like Dubai, Hong Kong, Mumbai will probably replace London and NYC. Also Russia is also looking east for its future and has improved relations with China across the board. I'm sure Putin wants to obliterate NYC off the face of the earth if he wants to. NYC will become more unequal and will be some what of a dystopian society than utopian after 2050.
If anything I hope the U.N headquarters can remain in NYC!
americans still buy more of everything that those
other third world sweatshop countries make but
can't afford, plus we get charged more for it from
supposedly our own people for outsourcing it in
the first place.
So far this is the best thread I have read so far.
For most of the U.S history, NYC has directly affected America even before it was a nation and a bunch of 13 British colonies. At one point NYC was the capital of the country, and prior to that pivotal moments of the revolution war happened on the streets and country sides of would be NYC. NYC took off with the completion of the Erie Canal system slowly allowing the city to become a major Atlantic port and the economic engine of the new nation. Also NYC has been the scene of plenty of tragedy that affected the nation. During the Civil War many New York City residents started to harbor an anti war rhetoric which eventually turned into the largest and most deadly riot in America's history. The NYC draft riots sparked similar riots throughout the country. Triangle Shirt waist factory fire during the turn of the 20th century killed hundreds of women, this lead to new fire safety codes not only in NYC but nation wide. Lets not forget 9/11. And recently Hurricane Sandy which affected NYC and help push a national and international climate change agenda which is lead mainly by white liberals. Gay and feminist civil rights movements started out in NYC and spread nation wide. As you can see whatever affects NYC spreads to rest of the nation.
But how does the nation affect NYC? The nation affects NYC in plenty of ways, most notably economically and to a certain degree even politically and even culturally. Even though Wall Street is located in NYC, plenty of financial say comes out of Washington D.C. Low interest rates helped keep the cities real estate market hot pushing rents and property prices even more higher. Same could be said in other cities like D.C, SF and Boston. Also national policies can hurt NYC. I wasn't born then but President Ford told NYC to drop dead when NYC filed for bankruptcy. Federal government gave loans to whites allowing many to move to the suburbs and removing plenty of middle class folks out of the city. Union busting President Ronald Reagan which saw the decline of Union jobs nation wide. To President Clinton Urban Renewal act allowed for reinvestment in cities, but also helped push the need for gentrification. Also with deals such as Glasteagel and NAFTA, last rements of industrial jobs either moved out of NYC to down south or out of the country for good. Also the decline of certain regions of America is forcing plenty of young people to move to NYC out of college to find opportunity which puts locals in heated competition with outsiders for work.
During the early 20th century their was cracks evident in the British Empire. Same is being played out with the USA in the early 21st century with the global economic meltdown. Like the Spanish Empire of the 16th and 17th century, the USA spent way too much of its GDP on arms which is not sustainable in the long run of things to progress a nation forward, while roads need repairing, public schools need improving, and NASA becoming less and less unimportant. How does this plays out in NYC? Take a look at the housing projects which are federally funded, or the horrid mass transit system. Look at the city roads, filthy rivers that can give you pink eye. NYC is a great city, but its not the "sole" greatest city on earth! Now we live in a global world with many great cities such as Sydney, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Tokyo, Mexico City, London, Istanbul. Centuries before all it took was one city to dominate the world. London, Madrid, Venice, Constantinople, Baghdad, Rome, Alexandria, Athens, Ur. Back to the beginning of this paragraph. I believe that America will be a great power and have its super power status reduced by the middle of this century, however will be great power until the end of the century. Asia will probably be the dominant continent of this century with India, China and a resurgent Russia leading the way. A good example is trading centers like Dubai, Hong Kong, Mumbai will probably replace London and NYC. Also Russia is also looking east for its future and has improved relations with China across the board. I'm sure Putin wants to obliterate NYC off the face of the earth if he wants to. NYC will become more unequal and will be some what of a dystopian society than utopian after 2050.
If anything I hope the U.N headquarters can remain in NYC!
what an intelligent, thoughtful response; thanks so much for sharing.
NYC has for the most part been one of the most outwardly looking cities in the US (ie "un-American" to the xenophobic people). During the revolution, it had one of the highest concentrations of tories. And for more than a century after and even to the present, it maintaned strong ties to the UK. Up to the 1910s, it was considered a prestige for NYC women of high society to marry English bachelors. And many of the large corporations of the time like Cunard, Morgan and Goldman thrived on cross-Atlantic trade.
NYC has for the most part been one of the most outwardly looking cities in the US (ie "un-American" to the xenophobic people). During the revolution, it had one of the highest concentrations of tories. And for more than a century after and even to the present, it maintaned strong ties to the UK. Up to the 1910s, it was considered a prestige for NYC women of high society to marry English bachelors. And many of the large corporations of the time like Cunard, Morgan and Goldman thrived on cross-Atlantic trade.
definitely products of its Dutch colonization when it was virtually built on international trade and the idea of making a buck.
thus i fully see your point on this one, FH. but my question was more about how New York would be affected by being part of America, not what its contributions to it are. In other words, could the affect of being in a different and less powerful US affect the city itself in its global role? a progressive city like New York is not the reason the US is what it is today; it's the regressive forces that largely come from regions outside the northeast, the west coast, and the urbanized great lakes (obviously including my home town of Chicago) that have made the US what it has become.
question is: does that affect NYC's power and influence and how the city functions internally (for example: if NYC were part of other countries, such as our neighbor to the north, Canada, there would be a lot more money available for infrastructure).
could the affect of being in a different and less powerful US affect the city itself in its global role?
As long as it does not cut off trade, which is its lifeblood.
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