Transcript Chapter 20, Section 3

Chapter 21, Section 3:
Life in the Changing Cities
Main Idea: A building boom,
new technology, and new
leisure activities changed the
way city dwellers lived.
A. Cities Take on a New Look
Vertical Growth

New technology made “skyscrapers”
possible
 Lightweight steel frames
(stronger)
 Elevators made high-rises more
practical
 1st high-rise in Chicago in 1885
(10 stories)
Horizontal Growth


Open spaces provide areas for
recreation (parks, zoos, gardens, etc.)
Public transportation carried workers
to jobs & lessened traffic jams
 Electric streetcars (trolleys)
 Subways(underground)
 Els (elevated trains)
- Urban parks, such as Central
Park, were designed in order to
preserve open spaces.
B. Sports

Sports provided people with an
escape
 Baseball – 1st played in NY
in 1840s, became popular
during CW, 1st pro
teams/league in 1870s,
segregated until 1960s
 Football – all run, no pass,
many injuries
 Basketball – James Naismith
in Springfield, MA, wanted
winter indoor activity, soccer
ball was thrown into peach
baskets nailed to walls
Abbott &
Costello
Transcript
Video
C. Entertainment



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Shopping becomes more popular
with department stores (Macy’s in
NYC)
Wealthy attended symphonies and
operas; commoners went to
vaudeville shows (variety/talent acts)
and listened to ragtime (“Maple Leaf
Rag” by Scott Joplin)
Edison’s phonograph cause music to
become more popular; marching
bands played John Philip Sousa
songs (“Stars & Stripes Forever”)
These shared experiences brought
Americans together & spread
American culture
- Vaudeville shows became extremely popular.
Examples: comedians, song and dance routines, and acrobats
- Music such as ragtime became extremely popular as well.
Example: Scott Joplin – an African-American composer
Audio: Maple Leaf Rag
* Music, sports
and vaudeville
brought
Americans from
different cultures
together and
helped to
encourage
assimilation