Lesson 6: A Changing American Culture

Key Idea

As cities ran out of space, builders looked upward. New steel-frame construction, along with safety elevators, allowed for much taller buildings. This technology gave rise to the first skyscrapers, which dramatically changed city skylines.

To move growing populations, cities also developed new forms of mass transit. Electric trolley cars, cable cars, and underground subways appeared in major urban centers. This allowed people to travel quickly and helped suburbs grow, as people could now live farther from their jobs.

Key Idea

As cities grew, Americans with more free time and money looked for new forms of recreation. To offer an escape from crowded urban life, cities built large public parks. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed New York’s Central Park as a place for city dwellers to relax and play.

A new consumer culture also developed as people began to buy goods for entertainment. Grand new department stores turned shopping into an exciting pastime. Professional sports, especially baseball, grew into a popular spectator activity, creating a new industry based on leisure.

Key Idea

The growing industrial economy required workers with more skills than ever before. Factories and offices needed people who could read, write, and do math. This demand led to a major expansion of public education across the country.

States passed compulsory education laws, which made school attendance mandatory for children. As a result, the number of public elementary and high schools soared, teaching a wider range of subjects to prepare students for a more complex society.

Key Idea

As industrial jobs created more structured work schedules, many Americans found themselves with more leisure time. This new free time led to the rise of popular entertainment for the masses.

Crowds began to flock to spectator sports like baseball and football. Live stage shows called vaudeville offered a popular mix of music, comedy, and magic acts that appealed to a wide audience of city dwellers.