In Kasson's "Amusing the Millions", he examines America in what can be viewed as its mid-life crisis. The turn of the century brought about unprecedented prosperity, unparalleled world power, and a before unseen desire for entertainment. America was trying to come to grips with its new place in the world and its citizenry was attempting to redefine the countries demeanor. The United States was going through a time of reconciliation. It was a reconciliation of North versus South. It was a reconciliation of the traditional male dominated society with a growingly active women's movement. And it was a reconciliation of rich versus poor. No longer would the populous need to use recreation for personal growth but could be entertained for entertainments sake. Sometimes to laugh, sometimes to cry, but from here forward, it was to just be entertained. We will examine some of these changes in attitude in the following essay.
             As the country began to put the pieces back together of its shattered union, the population began to examine it self. It had been a long, bitter fight pitting brother against brother. It had been a time of great tension and anguish. It was necessary for the populous to look inside themselves. What they saw was something new. It was a desire to let loose. They saw entertainment could be for entertainments sake only. No strings attached. They had a desire to join the "activities which had previously existed only on the margins of American life" . Gone were the times that every moment of ones life had to be used to grow the mind and strengthen the body. This was the time for the soul to let loose and places like Coney Island gave the body a place to do it. The change had begun.
             The traditional Victorian roles for men and women began to change during this period. Outside of Coney Island, women were often treated as inferior while men ruled the home in nearly all asp...