Download - Chapter 20 “The Changing Face of Cities”
Chapter 20 “The Changing Face of
Cities”Section 3
Big cities ran out of space in their downtown areas
Planners and architects decide to build up
Cities Take on a New Look
The first high rise building was constructed in Chicago in 1885. It was ten (10) stories high.
Going Up
Traffic jams become a problem as more people are living in cities
Frank Sprague designed the first electric street car system in Richmond Virginia
Public Transportation
Street cars ( or trolley) were fast, clean and quiet
In 1897, Boston led the way in building the first underground electric railway
Public Transportation contd.
In 1904, New York opened the first section of its subway system
Earlier New York had built an elevated train called the E1. Steam engines pulled passengers cars along overhead tracks.
Public Transportation contd.
1850 Fredrick Law Olmstead planned Central Park in New York City
Other cities followed this model setting asideareas for zoos and gardens so that people
couldenjoy green grass and trees during leisure
time.
Open Spaces
In the 1800’s department stores sprang up, selling all kinds of goods in one building
In 1902 R.H. Macy opened a nine (9) story building at Herald Square in New York City
These department stores led to a new pastime, shopping
A New World for Shoppers
Americans found a great escape through sports
A Passion for Sports
By the late 1800’s baseball was becoming the nation’s favorite sport
Baseball was first played in New York City in the 1840’s
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
During the Civil War, New York soldiers showed other Union troops how to play the game
At first African Americans played baseball too
In the 1880’s they were barred from playing major league baseball
Ballgame contd.
In 1885 Frank Thompson organized a group of waiters into the first black professional team, the Cuban Giants of Long Island
In early baseball pitchers threw the ball underhand
Catchers caught the ball after one bounce
Ballgame contd.
Fielders did not wear gloves
High scores were common
One championship game ended with a score of 103 to 8
Ballgame contd.
Football grew out of soccer, which Americans had played since the colonial times
Players did not wear helmets and were often hurt In one season 44 college players died from
injury
Rough and Tumble Football
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891
An Indoor sport
He planned to use square boxes, not hoops but the janitor nailed two (2) bushels baskets to the wall
The players tried to throw soccer balls into the baskets
The game caught on and spread to other YMCA’s and then to colleges
Indoor contd.
A wide variety of cultural activities spread through cities including music
Generally only the wealthy attended orchestras or symphonies
Vaudeville: a variety show that included comedians, song and dance routines, and acrobats
Other Entertainment
Ragtime: a new kind of music with a lively rhythmic sound
Scott Joplin, an African American composer, helped make ragtime popular
Entertainment contd.
Songwriters and Thomas Edison’s phonograph helped make song recording a popular industry
Popular Songs
Music and other kinds of entertainment brought Americans together
People from different culture sang the same songs and saw the same shows
Traveling groups like acting companies, circuses and Wild West shows spread American culture beyond the cities to small towns everywhere
Shared Experiences