Coca-Cola: Up, Up, & Away - Urbanization

John Pemberton
University of Southern Georgia

Coca-Cola Ad
Michigan State

    Throughout time many changes have taken place to make cities what they are today. One of the most important changes in my opinion was the invention of the soft fountain drink known today as Coca-Cola. John Pemberton, originally a pharmacist, opened the company known as Coca-Cola in 1881 after failing to create successful medications. He did this after moving to Atlanta and seeing advantages in the beverage market. Even though John Pemberton had created a phenomenon, he never got to really see what affect Coca-Cola would have on society, and specifically urban life. Mr. Pemberton had no idea how to advertise, so he gave that task to Frank Robinson. Frank Robinson you could say is what got Coca-cola to what it is today. Robinson not only registered the formula with the patent office and designed a logo that is used to this day, but also he made a slogan that caught many consumer's eyes: "The pause that refreshes."

Asa Griggs Candler
Governor's State

Coca-Cola Factory
Blairsville, PA
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

    After Pemberton's death in 1889, they company seemed it was gone and going to fail. At that point a man named Asa Griggs Chandler took over, buying the company for about $2300, equivalent to about $70,000 today. He was made the sole owner of the company and made some changes that would make Coca-Cola from selling 9 glasses a day to tens of thousands of glasses an hour. Mr. Chandler was very fond of advertising and you can see it if you look around this page, or just Google search Coca-Cola advertisement 1900s. You see these amazing advertisements that were found in everyday newspapers, magazines, calendars, and many other things. Not only making it a successful drink, Chandler tried to put it in the medicine market, saying it removes fatigue and cures headaches. Coca-cola, unfortunately wasn't a successful medication, ending in 1898 after a tax had been put on medications following the Spanish-American War. I have to admit though, I appreciate some coke whenever I am getting tired or my mind is aching.

Coca-Cola Bar
Wilkes Community College

Coca Cola Urn/Dispenser
Smithsonian

     What did coke provide to city life is a question that was raised as I did much research on this project. Coke did something that I believe no one at the time, or now could. It provided a cheap drink that not only pleased but also refreshed the body. People usually see an increase in quality correlates with an increase in price, but that was not the case with Coca-Cola. Coke started bottling in 1894  when a Mississippi salesman  named Joseph Biedenharm suggested the idea. Chandler, the owner of the company, wasn't too fond of it and only wanted to see coke as a fountain drink, but as we see today it proved to be wrong. I honestly like the taste of fountain drinks better, but I have drank probably 10-12 cans of just Coca-Cola in the past week. Two Chattanooga business lawyers bought the idea of bottling coke in 1900 for a sum of $1. In 1900 there were about 20 bottlers of Coca-Cola around the country, by 1920 there were over 1000 bottlers. Coke for 70 years was marked at only 5 cents (changed for inflation obviously). Even though there was a big divide between the working  class and upper class, I found that Coca-cola was a commonality. The rich found Coke good because of its quality, and the poor found it nice because of its price. In this holiday season many go out shopping to find the best quality for the lowest price, and that was what Coke provided. This pleased the hearts of the city goers.

Chronology of Coke Bottle 1894-1915
Retro Planet

     Many places throughout the country were vending Coke, whether it was locally in Atlanta or Coney Island in  NY. This was possible because the amazing advertising that Frank Robinson had started and continued through Asa Griggs Chandler. They had an idea of giving out free coupons for coke. They wanted men and women to try, like, and then buy. This became common in big cities as men and women would appreciate its taste and go on to buy not only once but for a century to come. As I was looking through old newspapers on Chronocling America I found that Coke was advertised in about a 1500 newspapers from San Francisco to NYC from the years of 1886 to 1920. This innumerable advertising eventually catches your attention. I can attest to that since the radio station I listen to coming to school has been advertising this mortgage company and I get a bit annoyed, however it has caught my attention. Once something is on your mind, you want to give it a shot, and if it is free then why not. That's what coke did, it caught people's attention through amazing and in-numerous advertising in many different everyday products. It got people people to try, like, and buy this drink that is my favorite.

Coca-Cola Coupon
Wikipedia

     Coca-cola had small beginnings but became the drink of not only the working man but also the families in the upper class. Coke was successful as it stayed alive through prohibition (even though it contained cocaine for some time). What coke did through generations is stay focused, and as my fathers advises me: If you stay focused the sky is the limit. Coke is the drink of anyone, a child or an adult, a man or a woman, an a rich or a poor.
University of Florida
Arizona State University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Smithsonian
Georgia Encyclopedia
History Student Center
University System of Georgia
WEKU FM 88.9 - NPR

Is it possible to really be an American?

http://mahadamjad.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-it-possible-to-really-be-american.html

Click link to read blog...

Henry Ford: What a Man

     US History in the late 19th to very early 20th century might seem a bit boring. Back in my latter elementary years, we learned about the Civil War, its effects, and jumped directly to World War 1. Many people, such as me in the past, had no interest in what was taking place in this era, but this era was the start of something huge, something revolutionary in the US. Arguably, this era was what made this nation the most productive overall in the world. This was because less than one percent  of the United States population took a couple of risks and in doing so became one of the richest men of all time. In this time in history big business tycoons emerged. This extravagant list contained 6 of the top 10 richest men to ever live according to Forbes. This list, which its anyone's dream to be a part of, includes John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, W.H. Vanderbilt, Andrew Mellon, Henry Ford, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Of this list, one man made a big change in the history of how corporations work, that man was Henry Ford.

Henry Ford in his earlier days
HFMGV

     Look out the window, I guarantee you will see a vehicle produced by Ford Motors and Co. This is because Henry Ford, back in 1907 took an idea that would change mankind forever. Henry Ford was one of eight children born in Dearborn, Michigan. His D.O.B. was July 30, 1863, falling a day before I was born (not year, I'm not that old). Fast forward to 1903 and he created one of the most successful motor industries in the world named Ford Motors. Through this company he established a type of production known as the assembly line. From this each worker was responsible of doing one part, rather than building a whole vehicle independently. This significantly reduced costs for an already wallet friendly vehicle known as the Model T. He effectively, through the assembly line, reduced the price of the Model T from $850 to an amazing $250. Doing this, the Model T became a catalyst for a changing industry. Through this innovation, today anything can be mass produced. At the age of 52, Henry Ford became both the richest and most popular person in the States. 

      His industrial success made came with its struggles. In the early part of the 20th century, Henry Ford was involved in a 6 year court battle with the Association of Licensed Automobile manufacturers. Through this experience, Henry became known to fight for what he believed in, even if it did not do good to both parties. His relationships with people who he did not like was interesting. He, in order to harass the Jews, in 1918 bought the Dearborn International newspaper. For weeks he, in the paper, publishes attacks at international Jews. His brooding character against kinds was not much appreciated, but it was what it was. He even pledged to give some of  his money to stop the US from helping, both physically and financially, countries who were involved in conflict. Henry Ford was much egotistical and did not always think about others.

     Henry Ford had some major accomplishments in his life. He, in being very rich, is much recognized today. We all look outside and get to see our fair share of Ford produced trucks, sedans, and even police cars. Ford created the Model T and made a vehicle for the masses,  made production miracles, but also in the end he was the poor man's rescue.

University of Hanover
University of Detroit Mercy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Crazy Horse: Past, Present, and Future

      Throughout history many leaders have past human's eyes. Great generals have shaped history in many ways, whether it be through military expansion like Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan, or through governing of their empires, like Winston Churchill or Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Our eyes look past one of the greatest leaders in North America, a man, a chief, a leader named Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse was an amazing chief of the Native Americans. He belonged to the the Sioux Tribe, one of the most elite tribes in the region. Crazy Horse shaped the Native Americans during the Indian War like no other, and due to that he is remembered every day. Crazy Horse's biography and effect on present day can help us understand the significance he has every day to not just Native American but universal culture.

Sitting Bull, Gall, Crazy Horse
McLarry Fine Art

Custer
PBS

Crazy Horse had an intense life, filled with action, understanding, and character. Crazy Horse, originally known as "Curly" was born in present day Rapid City, South Dakota. South Dakota in the present day is one of the most concentrated areas of Native American inhabitants. Crazy Horse was fierce and aggressive from a young age, killing a buffalo by the age twelve. His courage and braveness allowed him to adopt his father's, who was a medicine man, name Crazy Horse. At an early age, while living with his uncle, Spotted Tail, witnessed an event that wrought the life of him. He had went out to hunt one day, only to return a burnt village and eighty-three people murdered. This was the outcome of the US Cavalry that had attacked the area because they felt that they would do better there. Crazy Horse found their attack useless and unnecessary creating an ill-feeling inside him toward the white man. I, as well as many, believe that Crazy horse would go on to hate the white race due to this very reason, the killing of his very own tribe. As Crazy horse got older, his skills got intensely better. In the years of 1866-1868, Crazy Horse participated in his first war, also known as Red Cloud's War. He joined raids in order to attack white settlements in Wyoming. This showed that he put the tribe over himself as he was very selfless. He valued his people more than himself even as an individual. Seeing this, the Lakota Sioux tribe that he was a member of made him the chief of the Oglalas at the young age of 24. Crazy Horse was talented at a young age, and through seeing his greatness the Sioux put their lives in Crazy Horse's hands. That was the best thing they could do. Crazy Horse went on, fighting for independence from the US, fighting for the right of privacy. Eventually he became rival to one of the greatest American chiefs of the 19th century, General Custer. Many believe that General Custer has had a significant influence on American society, and it is seen in a town in South Dakota being named after him. Custer's strength and deep army, however, did not scare Crazy Horse. Custer had invaded the area that had been given to the Native Americans as a peace treaty from the outcome of Red Cloud's war, and Crazy Horse did not much appreciate that. The US gave orders to Native Americans to stay on the reservations and not hurt the people coming through, but Crazy Horse ignored orders showing his resilience. The Army organized a campaign against the Sioux and went to attack. This became better known as Rosebud Creek. The soldiers outnumbered the warriors. There were about 1300 American soldiers while there were only 1200 Sioux warriors. Crazy Horse ignored this, and still went ahead to battle. Crazy Horse joined forces with two other great Native American chiefs, Gall and Sitting Bull.
Through their assistance and Crazy Horse's military strategies, they went ahead to attack. Custer led forces from the North and West while Gall and his warriors attacked from the South and East. Crazy Horse and his crew went on to win the battle, but they could not finish out the war. I think that if Crazy Horse had more assistance, the Native Americans could have won the Indian War. After this incident, Crazy Horse's life began to wind down and he settled. He wanted to find stability in his life, whether it meant on the reservation or not. After settling, Crazy Horse's wife got sick and he had to leave the reservation to get her medical assistance. Leaving the reservation was strictly prohibited in the orders that the US had set down. On the way back, after he had got his wife medical assistance, he was found by some scouts from the US Army. Crazy Horse was dragged into jail, and he resisted. His resistance caused him to be literally bayoneted in the abdomen and that was the cause of his death. Crazy Horse always put others, whether it be his wife or his tribe, before himself. His attributes not only as a great leader but also as a great person can be helpful in anyone's life present day.
     Present day many have tried to remember Crazy Horse through creating memorials and remembering him through honoring objects. In the same location as the national monuments of the presidents, there is being created a monument of Crazy Horse. When it is completed, this will be the largest monument in the world. Crazy Horse represents freedom and light for the Native Americans and in doing so they have honored many things to him, such as this structure. Between Custer, South Dakota and Hill City, South Dakota is the highway US-20. The government there has decided to honor this highway as Crazy Horse Highway since he has shaped much of the culture there. There also has been a national motorcycle ride to honor Crazy Horse, known as the Crazy Horse ride in order to remember his great legacy for the Sioux Native Americans. Crazy Horse has and will be significantly affecting our lives now and for days to come.

Crazy Horse Memorial
Wikipedia

Annual Custer Ride
YTIMG

     Crazy Horse is one of the greatest soldiers and leaders of all time. He has had an impression on our past, and has an impression on our present, and will be changing our future. Whether we are Native American or not, we can and should learn a lot from Crazy Horse, both as a person and as a leader.

Western Michigan
Spartacus School NET
Rapid City Journal
University of Memphis
University of Nebraska-Lincoln