This three page undergraduate essay examines nineteenth-century American popular culture, which featured an increasing appreciation for sports, music, entertainment, and consumerism. Basketball was invented and baseball grew rapidly in popularity. Attending circus performances was trendy and excited crowds flocked to see Tom Thumb at Barnum and Bailey shows. American retailers and consumers discovered that department stores could offer lower prices and a wider selection of products as Woolworths and J.C. Penney stores began to appear in American cities.
