The Building of a Dream

The Building of a Dream

The dawning of the 20^th century was a time of great social, political and economic change in the Western world. Income inequality was at an all-time high around the world and in a little over a decade the world would find itself thrust into World War I. In the United States, it was an era in which families of note, such as the Rockefellers and Carnegies, dominated American industry. The richest 1% of Americans earned roughly 18% of all income. This discrepancy between social classes would come to dominate society in many ways including housing, entertainment, transportation and leisure.

In the early 20^th century, the only method of getting to the US from Europe, and vice versa, was by ship. People from all around the world from all different walks of life had the desire or need to travel across the Atlantic one way or the other. The Titanic was advertised as “unsinkable” and the rich, poor, famous and immigrant groups of patrons were very attracted to the idea of sailing on the maiden voyage of this luxurious ship. It was something to tell your grandchildren and an opportunity that many people thought they wouldn’t have ever again.

Before the Titanic, in centuries past, transatlantic travel was undertaken primarily by large sailing ships. These trips were often time consuming and incredibly perilous. With the invention and refinement of steam engine technology, steamer ships burst out onto the scene, greatly increasing the safety and speed of the journey. The SS Savannah, an American hybrid sailing ship/sidewheel steamer became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, from May to June 1819. With this burst of progress, the popularity of the ships increased drastically.  By the 1850s, wealthier passengers moved to steamships while immigrants stuck with sailing vessels.