Life In Cities Will Change Apartment buildings begin to spring up all over cities – Hot water, heat, kitchens, flushing toilets, telephones – 1880s: electric lighting & appliances) – Elevators invented

Building Boom – Cities begin to run out of room for expansion – Building up versus building out

Skyscrapers: tall building with many floors supported by a lightweight steel frame - 1 st : Chicago 1885: nine stories tall Elevators make a skyscraper convenient & intriguing Building Up ?v=XvhP2CJac-Ev

Moving People Traffic begins to become a problem in cities Trolleys from center of cities outward – This creates the first suburbs

Suburbs: residential area on or near the outskirts of a city Steam-driven passenger trains on overhead tracks Subways Bridges

Public Parks – Parks could offer open land to calm busy, crowded city dwellers (Central Park) – Zoos & gardens (green grass and trees)

Department Stores Department stores: large retail store offering a variety of goods organized in separate departments Macy’s: 9 story department store – clothes, furniture, jewelry, window-shopping v=C6aYPVaHOy8

Sports – A way to escape the pressures of work & city life – Baseball: most popular sport in nation (first played in NY) 1870s: many cities have pro teams Gives rise to a whole new pastime! Ij5AQC9k

– Football: Grew out of European soccer U.S. played since 1700s No helmets, little skill 1908 = 33 college player died from injuries – Basketball: 1890s starts at the YMCA

YMCA: Young Men’s Christian Association Wanted a sport that could be played indoors in winter – 2 bushel baskets to gym walls – Soccer ball thrown into baskets

Theaters & Music – Music: different cultures sang the same songs – sense of new community – Theater: spreads “American” culture (Wild West) & builds sense of new community as well – Circuses: family fun entertainment

Shows – Symphonies, operas – usually reserved for the wealthy – Vaudeville: variety show that included comedians, song & dance routines, acrobats – – Provided “breakout” opportunities to immigrants/ talent (think American Idol or X-Factor)

Ragtime – New kind of music with a lively, rhythmic sound Scott Joplin – “Maple Leaf Rag” John Philip Sousa – “Stars & Stripes Forever” – 4 th of July

Looking to the Future… NOW we’ve set the scene for… -Cleaner cities & better living conditions -Recreational activities -An educational awareness of other classes -An improved schooling system -A platform for women’s rights