The Rise of American Culture
Entertainment, Mail-Order Catalogs, and Department Stores
start
Objectives
Standards
Desired Result
What activities did Americans join in for fun and entertainment during the late 1800's?
Share in the chat box What kind of entertainment existed before TV and the internet?
Introduction to Consumer Culture
From Homemade to Store-Bought People used to make things at home. Now, they started buying goods made in factories. Big Changes from Industry and Cities New machines and factories made products faster and cheaper. Cities grew, and more people lived and worked there. More Money to Spend Middle-class families began earning more. They had extra money to buy things like clothes, furniture, and fun items.
How Billboards, Brands, and Magazines Changed the Way America Shopped
The Advertising Age
šļø Growth of National Advertising Companies began advertising across the country, not just in local areas. šŖ§ Billboard Advertisements Big signs along roads and in cities grabbed peopleās attention. š Magazine Marketing Ads in popular magazines helped sell products to readers everywhere. šļø Brand Development Products got names, logos, and slogans to make them easy to remember. š§ Consumer Psychology Businesses studied what people liked and used that to sell more. š Product Packaging Colorful boxes and labels made products stand out on store shelves.
Shopping by Mail: A New Way to Buy
Montgomery Ward started in 1872 First major mail-order business in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck and Co. began in 1893 Became one of the biggest catalog companies. Catalogs were called the āConsumerās Bibleā People trusted them and used them to shop for everything. Urban goods reached rural America Families in the countryside could buy items they couldnāt find locally. Sold everything from clothes to house kits You could even order a whole house through the mail!
Provide context for your topic with a subtitle
Brain Break:World Water Monitoring day
J.C. Penny's Macy's Sears
Rise of Department Stores
New way to shop ā Big stores with many productsFixed prices ā No haggling; prices were clearly marked Many departments ā Clothes, furniture, toys, and moreāall in one place!
_clinicvet.com
Entertainment venues
America's new social spaces
1890 - 1920
Closure
What activities did Americans join in for fun and entertainment during the late 1800's?
Mechanical Wonderlands
From Coney Island to Main Street
Popular Attractions:
- Wooden roller coasters
- Carousels (merry-go-rounds)
- Ferris wheels
- Fun houses
Food and Refreshments:
- Hot dogs
- Ice cream cones
- Popcorn
- Cotton candy
- Coney Island (New York)
- Dorney Park (Pennsylvania)
- Hershey Park (Pennsylvania)
- Kennywood (Pennsylvania)
America's Sport Spirit
- Baseball
- "America's Pasttime"
- City leagues form
- Football
- Started as college games
- Thanksgiving traditions
- Social Impact
- Affordable tickets
- Shared experience and community pride
8-12 unrelated acts per show
10-20 minutes per performance
Continuous performances (noon to midnight)
Admission: 10-50 cents
Family-friendly content enforced
Vaudeville Shows: America's Entertainment Revolution (1880s-1900s)
Objectives
I can explain how consumer culture of the late 1800's changed American society. I can understand the new forms of leisure and entertainment that came about in the late 1800's in the U.S.
Nature Meets the City
- Central Park, NYC (1857)
- Prospect Park, Brooklyn (1867)
- Fairmount Park, Philadelphia (1867)
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco (1871)
- Forest Park, St. Louis (1876)
- Public health
- Recreation
- Cultural mixing
- Civic pride
- Environmental preservation
Objectives
I can explain how consumer culture of the late 1800's changed American society. I can understand the new forms of leisure and entertainment that came about in the late 1800's in the U.S.
Standards
6.2.8.C: Evaluate how advertising influences consumer choices. 7.3.8.A: Explain the human characteristics of places and regions using physical and cultural criteria.
The Rise of American Culture
Steve Sweder
Created on September 17, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
January School Calendar
View
Genial Calendar 2026
View
Annual calendar 2026
View
School Calendar 2026
View
2026 calendar
View
January Higher Education Academic Calendar
View
School Year Calendar January
Explore all templates
Transcript
The Rise of American Culture
Entertainment, Mail-Order Catalogs, and Department Stores
start
Objectives
Standards
Desired Result
What activities did Americans join in for fun and entertainment during the late 1800's?
Share in the chat box What kind of entertainment existed before TV and the internet?
Introduction to Consumer Culture
From Homemade to Store-Bought People used to make things at home. Now, they started buying goods made in factories. Big Changes from Industry and Cities New machines and factories made products faster and cheaper. Cities grew, and more people lived and worked there. More Money to Spend Middle-class families began earning more. They had extra money to buy things like clothes, furniture, and fun items.
How Billboards, Brands, and Magazines Changed the Way America Shopped
The Advertising Age
šļø Growth of National Advertising Companies began advertising across the country, not just in local areas. šŖ§ Billboard Advertisements Big signs along roads and in cities grabbed peopleās attention. š Magazine Marketing Ads in popular magazines helped sell products to readers everywhere. šļø Brand Development Products got names, logos, and slogans to make them easy to remember. š§ Consumer Psychology Businesses studied what people liked and used that to sell more. š Product Packaging Colorful boxes and labels made products stand out on store shelves.
Shopping by Mail: A New Way to Buy
Montgomery Ward started in 1872 First major mail-order business in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck and Co. began in 1893 Became one of the biggest catalog companies. Catalogs were called the āConsumerās Bibleā People trusted them and used them to shop for everything. Urban goods reached rural America Families in the countryside could buy items they couldnāt find locally. Sold everything from clothes to house kits You could even order a whole house through the mail!
Provide context for your topic with a subtitle
Brain Break:World Water Monitoring day
J.C. Penny's Macy's Sears
Rise of Department Stores
New way to shop ā Big stores with many productsFixed prices ā No haggling; prices were clearly marked Many departments ā Clothes, furniture, toys, and moreāall in one place!
_clinicvet.com
Entertainment venues
America's new social spaces
1890 - 1920
Closure
What activities did Americans join in for fun and entertainment during the late 1800's?
Mechanical Wonderlands
From Coney Island to Main Street
Popular Attractions:
- Wooden roller coasters
- Carousels (merry-go-rounds)
- Ferris wheels
- Fun houses
Food and Refreshments:America's Sport Spirit
8-12 unrelated acts per show 10-20 minutes per performance Continuous performances (noon to midnight) Admission: 10-50 cents Family-friendly content enforced
Vaudeville Shows: America's Entertainment Revolution (1880s-1900s)
Objectives
I can explain how consumer culture of the late 1800's changed American society. I can understand the new forms of leisure and entertainment that came about in the late 1800's in the U.S.
Nature Meets the City
Objectives
I can explain how consumer culture of the late 1800's changed American society. I can understand the new forms of leisure and entertainment that came about in the late 1800's in the U.S.
Standards
6.2.8.C: Evaluate how advertising influences consumer choices. 7.3.8.A: Explain the human characteristics of places and regions using physical and cultural criteria.