Forward Magazine

December 1, 1920 3 Decades Of

Change

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Table of Contents

People • New America • United We Stand • Settlement Houses: Bringing Up America • The Future Of America

Politics

• Tammany the terrible • Women on the Societal Climb • Birth of a Social Movement • Congress of the People? • America’s Service to its people • Temperance and Prohibition • Progressive vs. Progressive

World News

• Battlefield of Democracy • The Panama Canal • Culture War

Leisure

• George Tilyou & Steeplechase Park: Opinion • Baseball: Bringing America Together • New Age, New Sound • The Consuming Machine

Editor: Sid Iyer; Writers: Todd Obilor, Nolan Kriech, Sam Lichy; Design: Christian Jimenez

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New America

America has changed. We are no longer an agrarian society of Anglo-Americans, ex-slaves, and Indians. We are a large, melting pot of cultures working in factories and living in cities. America is faced with to new realities that are drastically changing the America we know and love: the onslaught of Immigrants into the United States and the emigration of people from farms to cities. We are no longer one group of the same kind of people. We are Irish, Polish, Jewish, British, Chinese, Mexican, French, Italian, and many more. The statistics tell the story; according to the Library of Congress, in 1910,

three-quarters of New York City's population in 1910 was either immigrant or first generation American. The Library of Congress also states that from 1900 to 1915, fifteen million immigrants came to the United States. Additionally, these immigrants are not the English-speaking immigrants of the past. These new immigrants come from Eastern and Southern Europe, where the people speak strange languages and alien cultures. The Dillingham Report from Congress, delivered in 1910, reaffirms the belief that these new immigrants are inferior to those already living in

America. The invasion of lower cultures into our society inhibits our growth as the greatest nation on Earth. The Immigration Act of 1917 took an important step towards stopping the onslaught by requiring literacy tests for immigrants over sixteen years old and barring all Asian immigrants. This new legislation both curbs the flow of immigrants into our country and ensures that only those fit enough to survive in America and be valuable to our society are let in. Slowing immigration is essential to many American citizens who fear

Ellis Island

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losing their jobs to immigrants. America has not simply received more people for them to live in the same old agrarian system. The Library of Congress, in 1890, said 35.1% of Americans lived in cities. Now, over half of the country has been crammed into cities. This vast change has occurred as a result of the rise of industrialism, moving jobs from the farms of the countryside to the factories of the city. The sudden shift to cities has completely overrun any vision of equality, as the wealthy factory owners have exploited the predominantly immigrant laborers with low pay. These laborers have been thrown into disgusting tenements on filthy streets. Clearly, this monumental shift towards cities has overwhelmed the cities and allowed the poor to be exploited by powerful corporations and trusts. However, progressives defend the poor through settlement houses and supporting unions.

Some day, hopefully, the city will become a place to achieve prosperity rather than remain a place to suffer. The massive changes of the last thirty years drastically changed the American way of life, many times for the worse. However, the emergence of Progressivism within the cities and in the federal government promises a brighter future for our country. The lessons we learned through the failures of our immigration policy and evolution from an agrarian to an industrial society have surely made us a stronger nation. -Sam Lichy

New York City Skyline

Family of Immigrants

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Throughout the past decade, labor unions have been steadily gaining strength but it has been a hard-fought battle. Federations of labor unions, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, have helped labor unions spread and gain sway in the workplace. Thanks to men such as Terence Powderly and Samuel Gompers, workers’ rights have greatly improved. Of course, the labor strikes have been some of the most memorable events in the history of labor unions. Labor strikes have allowed skilled workers to immediately achieve things such as higher wages or better working conditions. Perhaps the most serious labor dispute occurred in 1882 during the Homestead Steel Strike. The strike began when Andrew Carnegie refused to comply with wage requests by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers for steel workers at his Homestead plant. Workers went on strike outside the factory until strikebreakers arrived, when the workers fought back to keep the strikebreakers from entering the factory. Only the intervention of the National Guard ultimately brought an end to the strike. The Homestead Strike tragically proved a major setback for the unionization of steelworkers. Another notable strike came in 1894: the Pullman Strike. After the Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages in factories, workers eagerly formed a strike and boycott, led by union leader Eugene V. Debs. Federal troops were called into action, resulting in 25 workers killed and over many wounded. Labor unions also received large amounts of support from Progressives since support for labor unions was an important part of the

Progressive agenda. President Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressives supported the eight-hour work day, improved safety and health conditions in factories, workers’ compensation laws, and even minimum wage laws for women. The future of labor looks hopeful, and by standing together, workers will continue to change the very face of labor for the better. There has been great progress made in the past three decades, and there will be much more to come in the future. – Nolan Kriech

United We Stand Group of Strikers

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In the late 1800s, our neighbors from across the pond, Great Britain, began to build houses for the poor, later known as settlement houses. These excellent solutions to assist the poor with housing allowed the middle class to understand the causes of poverty in predominantly immigrant neighborhoods: long work hours for low wages, very little education, and limited access to adequate living arrangements. One of the first of these settlement houses, Toynbee Hall was built in 1884 by the

revolutionary pioneers Samuel and Henrietta Barnett. Through their hard work, the Barnetts housed dozens of young men in their neighborhood. Inspired by this accomplishment, a young lady named Jane Addams traveled to Toynbee Hall in 1884 and desired to create a similar settlement house in the United States. And thus, Hull House was born. Jane Addams set up Hull House in the immigrant-filled West Side of Chicago and named it after the previous owner of the house, Charles Hull.

The first group Mrs. Addams proceeded to help was children. In order to achieve this goal, she set up a daycare in order to care for the next generation of our great society. To take this program a step further, she also set up a kindergarten and a boys' club for young men. With hard work and determination, the Hull House grew to 13 buildings by 1911 and provided hope and change the lives of hundred of immigrants and their families. Jane Addams is truly a hero and role model for all Americans. She

Settlement Houses: Bringing Up America

Jane Addams Hull House Flyer

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truly embodies the very aspect of progressivism that everybody, especially the great Theodore Roosevelt, would truly be proud of. Jane Addams set a standard for Americans, and many followed her model. For example, the

Northwestern University settlement formed shortly after the creation of the Hull House. This year, there are an estimated 500 settlement houses nationwide, all created by Americans helping Americans. Numerous settlement houses targeted

mothers trying to raise American families. Settlement houses embody the excellence that makes this country the best in the world. - Todd Obilor

“Unless our conception of patriotism is progressive, it cannot hope to embody the real affection and the real

interest of the nation.” – Jane Addams

Different Settlement Houses

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Reformers such as Florence Kelley are crucial in the struggle for child labor reform. But one does not even need to go as far. If our readers and other concerned citizens support reform, then there is hope for the future of this movement. By creating opportunities for children to attend school instead of working from such young ages, they can mature and learn, thereby advancing society and humanity. Instead of working, children can learn important life lessons and skills. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Without a proper education or childhood, society will never produce individuals who can improve it. The abuses found in the workplace must come to an end. By supporting the ban on child labor, all of us can directly work to improve the nation and benefit social justice. – Nolan Kriech

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Perhaps one of the greatest blights upon our society is that of child labor. Child labor has been a part of our society and workplace for centuries, but opposition has continued to mount over the past years. As a nation, we have made progress towards the introduction of proper child labor laws. In 1904, we took a step in the right direction with the formation of the National Child Labor Committee, a group calling for the reform of child labor laws across the country. In 1916, a new law passed that prohibited the interstate movement of goods from any factories employing underage workers. Individuals such as Florence Kelley have greatly helped in the fight against child labor. Kelley fought for children’s rights, and helped to found the National Child Labor Committee. She completed detailed studies of child labor in the workplace and fought to end the abuses she witnessed. Thanks to her efforts, the Illinois State Legislature prohibited child labor below age 14 with the passing of a new law.

The Future Of America

Small Girl in Textile Factory

Young Boy in Meat Plant

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Tammany the Terrible

No illusions exist regarding Tammany Hall, the blatantly corrupt political machine that has deeply affected politics in New York City since before the Civil War. In fact, former Tammany Hall boss and New York City mayor William Marcy Tweed shamelessly admitted, "As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it?" Tammany Hall's continued dominance over New York politics made the New York City government a corrupt oppressor rather than an advocate for the people. Tammany Hall's dominance in elections may seem like an indication of approval by the people of New York. However, a closer look reveals that New York

residents are anything but supporters of Tammany. Even today, the political machine rewards poor voters that vote for Tammany with places to sleep, coal for heat, and other necessities for living. These voters must vote for Tammany to ensure their survival, effectively making political policy completely irrelevant to the outcome of elections. Some have suggested that the party that serves the people most effectively should win elections. However, the government is not effectively serving the people if the people must sell their say in politics for basic necessities such as food and shelter. Furthermore, Tammany Hall was created to make

money, not run a city. Tammany Hall bosses live luxurious lives paid for by the wealthy corporations, who in return allow the oppression of working people. They do not fulfill the responsibility that the government should be an advocate for the people. Tammany Hall is the epitome of the vast inequalities of the last thirty years. It has locked up the vote of the poor by reducing them to nothing and making them beg for food, and it thrives largely at the expense of the poor. Greedy and evil organizations like Tammany Hall prove that the laissez-faire governing system allows the few to subjugate the many. - Sam Lichy

Tammany Hall

“I don't care who does the electing, so long as I get to do the nominating.”

– William Marcy Tweed

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Women on the Societal Climb

The first women's rights convention in the United States began in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, organized by leading women’s rights activists Elizabeth C. Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. These two inspiring women met with 100 others in order to outline the Declaration of Sentiments: the grievances and twelve resolutions that women wished to achieve. This document seemed overwhelmingly similar to the Declaration of Independence that our founding fathers drafted in order to explain the grievances of the British in the 1700s. Most notab ly, however, women tried to turn their attention towards their desire to have the right to vote. By 1869, only the Wyoming territory granted women the right to vote and serve on juries. To accomplish this long-term goal of suffrage for women, the National Woman Suffrage Association formed in 1890 with the goal of obtaining the right to vote in a state-by-state manner instead of getting the vote constitutionally. With the help of the NWSA, in 1918, sixteen

states passed voting rights for women, and this year, all women earned voting rights with the nineteenth amendment, signaling hopefully a great start to the 1920s. These actions help to show the magnitude of what women can do if given a chance in society. For example, Jane Addams, a prominent settlement house creator and a reformer, supported Theodore Roosevelt in his campaign. Many women also practiced civil disobedience consistent with the teachings of Henry David Thoreau in order to gain attention for their cause. Alice Paul, a Quaker woman who picketed the White House in order to get President Woodrow Wilson to listen, followed Thoreau's teachings in order to make progress. Even Margaret Sanger, a young nurse from New York, helped to inform the public about sexual activity and how to keep all Americans healthy. Women like these have helped elevate our country to greater heights and make our great country that much greater. – Todd Obilor

Elizabeth C. Stanton

Susan B. Anthony

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The past three decades have seen the rise of the great social and political movement known as Progressivism. Progressivism has swept across the country and helped improve and strengthen this great nation. But what really is Progressivism? Progressivism began in response to the changes brought about by modernization. Growing from a social movement into a political movement, Social progressivism was formed around the idea that the government should be adjusted to match the evolution of society. Progressives believe the problems of society, such as poverty, greed, racism, and violence, can be addressed best through good education, a safe environment, and an improved workplace. Great men and women have supported the Progressive movement, such as Jacob Riis and Jane Addams. Riis was a famous journalist and photographer, who examined the living conditions of the poor in his

article How the Other Half Lives in 1890. Jane Addams founded Hull House, a famous settlement house in Chicago. Americans should face the evils brought about by corporate greed and combat the fear of immigrants. Americans should register to vote and fight the corruption rampant in the political scene, and the voters should decide how to address issues. To empower the public, progressives believe in the process of initiative, referendum, and recall. Voters need to contribute to the voting and

election processes. The Progressives gained an especially strong voice in politics when Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901. Roosevelt believed corporations needed to be watched to combat corporate greed and corruption. Woodrow Wilson also supports the Progressive cause even now in office. While Progressivism has begun to fade in the face of the Great War, leaders such as Wilson have helped continue the movement. – Nolan Kriech

Birth of a Social Movement

Jacob Riis

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“When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.‘”

– Theodore Roosevelt

The process of passing legislation through Congress recently has required more than just a popular law. Much of the success of a bill has been based upon who said it rather than the content of the actual legislation. Party alliances shaped politics more than core issues, and politics were shaped by power hungry party leaders rather than the legislators with a passion for their country. This system of governing has proven detrimental to the effectiveness of the government as a governing body for the people. The power-hungry politics of the federal government became evident in the recent Republican takeover of Congress, in which the Republican Party used Woodrow Wilson's handling of the Great War, a war that the Republicans supported, to win a congressional majority. Clearly, the party disregarded its own political agenda in favor of trying to gain power. Our government has been a battleground between two power-hungry organizations rather than political change.

Furthermore, many politicians have not acted as advocates for the electorate. In place, they sought personal success and ascension to higher political power. The congressional representatives were, as a result, vulnerable to bribery, and powerful corporations have had the ability to push bills through Congress. Legislation has been built to meet the desires of legislators in order to gain wealth rather than meet the needs of the people. Our government, riddled with corruption and partisan bickering, has fallen stagnant and useless to the American people. However, the last twenty years have brought

progressivism to the forefront of politics. Neither party had fully adopted or rejected progressivism, allowing the issue of progressivism to be discussed without the confines of partisanship. Additionally, progressive legislators have had serious ambitions for this country, not just themselves, as shown in their trust-bust legislation. People like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson have driven our government to grow. I believe the future holds more progression towards a more fair political system, especially if we as a country can continue on this progressive track. – Sam Lichy

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Congress of the People?

Woodrow Wilson, a decent Progressive in the eyes of many Americans, created the Committee on Public Information on April 13, 1917, comprised of George Creel, Robert Lansing, Newton Baker, and Josephus Daniels. George Creel, the leader of the committee, took the task of exposing the wrongs of the treacherous huns, otherwise known as the German soldiers during the Great War, and he did an excellent job! Through a resourceful display of leadership, Creel hired people such as James Montgomery Flagg, Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, and Joseph Pennell, all prolific American artists capable of spreading the message of American dominance through the media in posters. The most famous of these posters was the iconic and inspiring Uncle Sam character, a man dressed in red, white, and blue clothing pointing his finger towards the reader of the poster with the slogan "I want you for U.S. Army" on the bottom of the poster. How inspiring! The common people saw these encouraging posters everywhere in the course of a day plastered on subways, billboards, and many other places. However, the genius George Creel did not stop at just using visual media. He used an exhilarating group of men composed of over 75,000 volunteers working to give millions speeches to almost anywhere in the American public: synagogues, churches, schools, and even in movie theaters. Many public officials embraced the program wholeheartedly, including Governor Carl E. Milliken of Maine, who supported the Four Minute Men’s encouragement to join the war effort, saying: “I feel that the work organized under the

name of the Four Minute Men has been of very great service indeed in spreading public information and in quickening the war spirit of our people. I hope that any man who has the ability to speak and is asked for that service as a Four Minute Man, will count it a great privilege and feel that in so doing he is helping in a very direct and important way toward winning the war.” Indeed it did! The intelligent Creel even went as so far as utilizing immigrants to praise America in their native languages. For example, Rev. Stanislau Musiel spoke in his native Polish to his people to cheer on the war effort. According to Creel, on average, each American heard an average of 3 speeches helping to enlighten the hearts of Americans to rally around our troops for the entirety of that Great War. – Todd Obilor

America’s Service to its people

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George Creel

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Temperance and Prohibition

With the arrival of Prohibition, the temperance movement became one of the biggest topics in the nation. The temperance movement has existed since the early 19th century, but it grew again within the past few decades with the spread of immorality and threats to society. One such social issue that the temperance movement has argued over is dance halls. Dance halls began to appear frequently in the early 20th century, where they became a haven for vices such as prostitution and unfit romance. This immoral behavior led many social reformers to advocate against dance halls due to this awful behavior. The most recent accomplishment in the battle

for temperance was the enactment of Prohibition. Since last January 16th, the nation has dedicated itself to the betterment of society by banning the manufacture, importation, sale, and transport of alcohol in the country. This monumental achievement came about thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1898, the Union began to focus primarily on the temperance movement and prohibition. It ran a publishing house, and took part in school activities. Another important contributor to the prohibition movement was the Anti-Saloon League. Founded in 1893 in Ohio, the League became a powerful organization at the national

level, focusing entirely on prohibition. The League attempted to achieve national prohibition through an amendment to the constitution. Allied with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and other organizations, the League helped bring about the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Prohibition marked a huge step in the right direction for temperance. By banning vices such as alcohol, prostitution, and illegal drugs, Americans will be free of detriment to their life and livelihood. We urge all citizens to continue supporting the ban on alcohol in addition to helping the temperance movement progress. - Nolan Kriech

Election

23 Woodrow Wilson

Of 1912

24 Theodore Roosevelt

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Progressive vs. progressive The election of 1912 was truly one for the ages. It featured arguably two of the best candidates ever in a national election. The first was Theodore Roosevelt, former president of the United States, with an eye for reform and a love for progressivism. The other was another progressive by the name of Woodrow Wilson. There was only one problem, however: the two progressives ran against each other. First of all, Woodrow Wilson somehow managed to get his name on the ballot after being nominated by the Democratic Party with some additional help from none other than William Jennings Bryan, a man who tried to run for president himself earlier in

his life. Roosevelt made his name known to the voters once again and made his own exceptional Progressive Party after failing to gain the Republican nomination due to the abominable incumbent William Howard Taft from Ohio, who had "the brains of a guinea pig" according to Roosevelt. Thus, the election was set in a 4-way race between the incumbent Taft, the mighty Roosevelt, the other Progressive Wilson, and the almost non-existent Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs. In order to secure a victory, Roosevelt knew he had to change up his tactics. Therefore, he intelligently campaigned aggressively by travelling 10,000 miles and

visiting 34 states, speaking in favor of the brilliant and necessary political and social stance of Progressivism. At one point, there was even an assassination attempt on Roosevelt right before he was scheduled to deliver a speech which would have almost killed him, but as luck would have it, the bullet barely penetrated his body and he was able to give a full, 90 minute uplifting speech. But all did not end well, as when the dust settled, Roosevelt would not end victorious, losing to the Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Although Roosevelt did not win the election, he definitely won the hearts of millions of Americans. – Todd Obilor

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Battlefield of democracy

The Great War began on July 28, 1914, with the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian rebels. Soon, the entirety of Europe was caught in the midst of war. The war spread across the globe, evolving into a true worldwide war. President Wilson pursued non-intervention and tried to work towards peace rather than war. However, tragedy struck on May 7, 1915, when a German U-boat sunk the British liner RMS Lusitania, leading to the deaths of 128 American citizens. In the interest of saving lives and maintaining peace, Germany halted its unrestricted submarine warfare until 1917 in addition to also inviting Mexico to enter into the war against the United States. Wilson felt the United States had a American Soldiers in the Trenches

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moral obligation to enter the war in order to defend democracy. The world was at risk from Germany’s “warfare against all mankind.” In order to safeguard this oncoming threat against democracy, the United States entered into the Great War on April 6, 1917. Thanks to American intervention, the war ended in a decisive Allied victory on November 11, 1918. Not only did our brave soldiers defend our own country and citizens, but America also fought to defend the entire free world. Our cause was selfless: to propagate democracy, support the rights of smaller nations, and liberate the world itself. Wilson summarized America’s intent: to “vindicate the principles of peace and justice.” At the end of the war, President Wilson proposed his plan to make the world “safe for democracy” with the establishment of the League of Nations, an international organization dedicated to peace. Ultimately, the United States never joined, although President Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his role in the creation of the league. The United States’ contribution to worldwide democracy and peace is undeniable. By taking part in the Great War, our nation has proven its greatness to the world. – Nolan Kriech

U.S. Marine

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On February 1, 1881, the dream that dozens of explorers had throughout history came true. Workers began construction on the Panama Canal, a waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, a French man who designed the Suez Canal in Egypt, the 50-mile-long Panama Canal cost a whopping 132 million dollars. However, these were not the only challenges de Lesseps endured. The mountainous Panamanian region made building the canal incredibly difficult, and later, the company that de Lesseps led went bankrupt, resulting in a cease of operations on the canal and heartbreak. Later, luck began to change when the great Theodore Roosevelt had the idea of resurrecting the construction of the canal. Obviously, Roosevelt wanted to have control over this canal due to shipping and trade in order to solidify America's stance as the best country in the world. But originally, securing the Panama Canal presented an astounding challenge: at this time, the greedy and power-hungry Colombians held control over Panama. Still determined, Roosevelt followed his useful and excellent doctrine of "speaking softly but carrying a big stick"

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The panama canal

and tried to negotiate with the Colombians. Hence, the two countries created the Hay-Herran Treaty in 1903, which allowed the United States to lease a six-mile strip of land for an annual fee. Unfortunately, the relentless and annoying Colombian government refused to completely agree to the agreement for its own greedy financial reasons. Furthermore, the Panama- nian people clearly did not agree with the Colombians and staged a revolution that the fair and just Roosevelt supported with full force. With the leaders Panama's corrected government, a new treaty known as the Hays-

Bunau-Varilla Treaty came into effect and awarded ten miles of land to the United States. The construction on the Panama Canal recommenced in 1904 with expert John Findley Wallace as chief engineer of the project. President Roosevelt appointed Medical Officer Colonel William C. Gorgas to prevent the infection of Americans with yellow fever and malaria. This type of care for Americans exactly exemplifies the love for reform and U.S. citizens that makes President Roosevelt a truly inspirational man and the reason for America's success in the world. - Todd Obilor

Ship Going Through the Panama Canal

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Culture War The fight to bring culture and social improvement to distant lands has not been a simple one. One such location is the distant country of China. Our missionaries have worked for decades to bring religion and social advancement to the Chinese ever since foreign missionaries were permitted access in 1858. In the 1890s, China provided territorial and commercial concessions to several European nations. However, a secret organization known as the Boxers emerged and began hunting down Chinese Christians and missionaries. Our missionaries and colonists worked to advance Chinese society and improve Chinese life. Despite this assistance, the Chinese acted with open hostility and violence. Tens of thousands of Christian missionaries and Chinese Christian converts were terrorized, brutalized, and killed. It was only due to the timely intervention of a joint American, European, and Japanese military force that the remaining converts and missionaries were saved. The Christians were martyred for a noble and moral cause. As one bishop put it, “It is worth any cost in money, worth any cost in bloodshed, if we can make millions of Chinese true and intelligent Christians.” If anything, this rebellion is a perfect example of why countries such as China need our influence. The Boxers engaged in wanton destruction of property and ruthless murder. Organizations such as the Boxers worked to destroy society and all that it stands for. As Christians, it is our God-given duty to support those who are ignorant and cannot help themselves. Our missionaries recognized this reality, and they risked their lives to bring the Word of God to non-believers so they

Images of U.S. Marines

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might be saved. Ultimately, Western action brought an increase in democracy to China. The Boxers’ rebellion weakened China’s ruling dynasty. In 1912, China became a republic. Our missionaries faced a great challenge in their journeys to distant lands. The Boxers’

rebellion in China has proven that there was unjust enmity and violence towards foreigners and foreign culture. However, in the name of justice and democracy and holiness, we will continue our struggle to ensure a better world. – Nolan Kriech

Depiction of American Strength

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George Tilyou And Steeplechase Park: opinion

Rarely praised are men who achieved success through commercialization, but George Tilyou provides an exception to this rule. The illustrious showman built a revolutionary amusement park that is now the standard by which all parks are measured. George Tilyou changed the amusement industry and gave an affordable yet extremely entertaining pastime for the masses of New York. To understand the beginnings of Steeplechase Park, we must first explore the history of Coney Island. Coney Island has always been a center of interesting activity. The beach has been a popular getaway with its hotels and boardwalk. However, the amusement industry took a huge leap forward in 1884 when LaMarcus Thompson opened The Switchback Railroad, the world’s first roller coaster. The booming success of the Switchback prompted the explosion of amusements at Coney Island. George Tilyou moved to Coney Island in 1865 at the age of three. His childhood consisted of selling souvenirs to Coney Island guests. In 1893, Tilyou honeymooned at the Chicago Columbian

Exhibition. Amazed by the massive Ferris wheel, he built a much smaller version at Coney Island. After opening several other attractions,

Tilyou had enough money to build his dream park. Steeplechase Park opened in 1897, attracting massive crowds. The new park

George Tilyou

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Steeplechase Park

centered around J. W. Cawdry's Steeplechase Roller Coaster. The famous ride consisted of eight rails along an track on which passengers rode on steel horse shaped vehicles. Steeplechase was unique because it charged customers at the gate and enclosed the park. This change helped build a safer and friendlier environment for clients. Steeplechase quickly

became the most popular park at Coney Island, mainly due to Tilyou's creativity. In 1901, Tilyou added the sensational “Trip to the Moon,” increasing popularity even further. In 1907, half of Steeplechase burned down, but Tilyou showed his resilience through the difficulty as he rebuilt the park bigger and better than ever before. Tilyou has not only proven an excellent leader

and businessman, but also a valuable asset to our community. He used his new riches to fund orphanages, Catholic Churches, and children hospitals. Additionally, the affordable thrill of a trip to Coney Island has brought joy and excitement to New York citizens. Today, Steeplechase Park remains a beacon of all the excitement of the new age. – Sam Lichy

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Baseball: Bringing America Together

There are the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. What did these three teams have in common? Our national pastime finally came together to form a professional league known as the National League. Unfortunately, pro baseball did not necessarily answer the prayers of baseball fans. The players misbehaved, the fans didn't seem to care too much for the league, and not even the greedy owners showed much interest. Not to mention, some of ballparks were in terrible shape.

However, it wasn't all bad. For example, the National League produced a young man by the name of Honus Wagner who later joined the Pirates in 1896. Wagner displayed many brilliant examples of his hitting ability by winning many National League batting titles. However, even he could not save the National League from plummeting. The league dropped down to eight teams from its original twelve teams, and the days of professional baseball looked bleak. Just in time in 1901, the luck of professional baseball began to change.

In 1901, the brand new American League came into play. With teams like the Chicago White Stockings, the Boston Americans, and the Detroit Tigers, the American League seemed ready for action, and they definitely came at a time when baseball needed them the most. A renowned sportswriter, Byron Johnson became an excellent manager and took the opportunity to expand the new league to the places where the National League abandoned, such as Baltimore and Washington D.C. As for the players, many were excited at the setup of

Philadelphia Phillies

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the National League versus the American League. For example, great, future players such as Cy Young, Jimmy Collins, and Hugh Duffy retired from the American League only to become household names and role models for baseball players today. It was decided by both leagues that the winning team of each respective league would win a pennant for coming in first place and play in a World Series against each other. The first World Series

took place in 1903 with the Boston Americans of the American League and the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. In an exciting series with a best-of-nine format, the Boston Americans won after eight games. This world series presented a prime example of the ability of America to come together and participate in an entertaining activity for the entire nation. Long live America! – Todd Obilor

Both Teams After the First World Series

New, exciting music reinvigorated the music scene with jazz, ragtime, and other forms of music that revolutionized the way we enjoy music. First, vaudeville music revolutionized the performance of music by combining popular music with theatrical performances of jugglers and comedians. Simple chords and a repeated chorus characterized vaudeville music, which was written by professional composers like Harry Von Tilzer. Additionally, venues sold songbooks, allowing people to bring the excitement of the show to their home. Vaudeville music proved to be an excellent source of entertainment for everyone. On the other end of the spectrum, exciting "ragtime" music became a prominent form of popular music, especially within the black population. Ragtime consisted of cheerful melodies made up of consistent bass lines mixed with wild and exciting melodies and was generally performed by either brash brass bands or on the banjo. This form of music was dominated by black composers such as Scott Joplin, whose "Maple Leaf Rag" sold one million copies of sheet music. Ragtime started

a massive social shift away from traditional entertainment and towards unrestrained dancing. The catchy melodies caught the entire nation up in the musical madness of ragtime. Vaudeville and ragtime both relied on the sale of sheet music for much of their profit. However, the invention of the phonograph quickly changed the way music was enjoyed in the home. In 1904, one out of every twenty-two households had a phonograph. Since then, the industry exploded. Recently, phonographs moved from the older canister system to the groove-disk system. This year, an estimated one hundred million grooved disks will be manufactured, showing how this revolution popularized all forms of music. The most recent developments in music, jazz, produced early success that promised their solidification as a major form of music. Jazz originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, around the turn of the century, and it is characterized by improvisation and freedom for the musicians. The release of "Tiger Rag" by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band set off a massive jazz craze that will carry jazz music to the top of the music industry. This revolutionary era in music pushed musicians to create more creative and entertaining music for countless Americans to enjoy. – Sam Lichy

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New Age, new Sound

Harry Von Tilzer

Scott Joplin

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The Consuming machine

Americans have always been consumers for the most part, excluding homesteaders of the west. We have always relied on each other to survive by working together. The Industrial Revolution played a major role in growing consumerism and changing the role of consumerism in our society. The advent of industrial technologies enabled a consumer revolution. The booming textile industry pushed the growth of department stores. Massive factories replaced small textile specialists, moving the textile industry from small family businesses to massive corporations. Similar changes affected many industries, such as the meat industry. Meat moved away from small butcheries to large meat-packing corporations. Urbanization essentially supersized the

smaller economic structure into a huge machine powered by corporations, characterizing the nature of industrialization coupled with urbanization over the last thirty years. Socially, these changes affected the traditional gender roles of the middle class. While men continued to be the main providers for the family, women adopted a new role as consumers. The traditional role of women as homemakers was transformed by consumerism, as women obtained household necessities from large stores to collect food, clothes, and commercial goods. This new reality helped build a new consumer culture based in commercialization. Billboards filled cities, while newspapers strategically placed advertisements to market products similar to

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articles. This new consumer culture essentially allowed corporations to have extremely strong voices regarding the lifestyle of Americans. Economically, consumer culture completely formed around supply and demand. Producers needed the demand of the consumer to sell products and used advertising to create demand. The problem with this system is that necessities were commercialized, making basic needs unattainable for the destitute. By

commercializing food, water, and property, many people were shut away from food. I do not believe that people who could not find jobs should be punished by hunger and thirst. Consumerism arrived in America, for better or worse. This new development may have been virtuous to our country, but it must be regulated. The American people must be protected by the American government to succeed with consumerism. – Sam Lichy

Macy’s Department Store