Life in Changing Cities

21-3

Building Boom• Cities were running out of space so they started building up

• Skyscrapers: tall buildings – many floors – supported by light frame• First – 9 stories built in Chicago 1885 • Elevators made this possible

Moving People• Traffic became a

problem – Why?• Electric Streetcars

(1887)• Fast – Safe – Clean• Helped to create Suburbs:residential area on or near the outskirts of the city

• Subway and Elevated Railway (1897)

• Bridges (1874)• Footpaths and railroad lines

Preserving Public Spaces• Some wanted to

preserve space in growing cities

• Believed open land would calm city dwellers

• Parks – zoos – gardens were places people could visit in their leisure time

Shopping• Shopping before was in specialty

stores • Shoes in one store – Shirts in another

• Department Stores are made• Large retail store offering a different goods from different sections of the store (separate departments)

• Macy’s opens in New York in 1902 • 9 stories

Americans at Play

• Baseball – Most popular sport in the nation • By 1870 Cities had

professional teams • African Americans could

play at first but were later ban

• Football -Came out of European Soccer• Now there are stricter rules due

to death

• Basketball – 1891• YMCA wanted there to be a sport

that could be played inside

Rise of factories split world of work and paly. There was less chance to socialize on the job so many took an interest in leisure

A New World of Theater and Music• By the Late 1800’s cities supported many cultural activities• Immigrants contributed

• Railroads brought circuses and acting companies on tour• This spread the culture of the city to small towns

• Entertainment brought different cultures together

• Symphony Orchestras and Operas were attended by Wealthy

• Vaudeville – Variety show that included Comedians, song and dance routines and acrobats• Brought opportunity to many ethnic backgrounds

Ragtime: Popular lively rhythmic music

“Maple Leaf Rag” Scott Joplin