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"On December 5, 1856, the New York Mercury coined the phrase "the national pastime." However, a year earlier other New York newspapers called the new game, Baseball, a "national game." But, baseball was far from a "national" anything at this time. It was very regional to the New York-- specifically New York City. These papers qualified their statements in the years to follow, the New York Clipper went as far as to say it had "no State existence even--to say nothing of a National one," in 1858. Baseball would not become a truly "national game until after the Civil War, and it did not become a democratic game until the integration of the mid-nineteenth century.
For sources see: Jules Tygiel, Past Time: Baseball as History, (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2000), 5-6; see also, Ken Burns documentary, Baseball, "Inning 1, Our Game, 1840s-1900."
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What is pastime?
You want to know what pastime is?=An interest or activity that somebody pursues in his or her spare time.=
How did baseball become the American pastime?
Baseball is considered a development from an older game called rounders that was made popular in Great Britain and Ireland. It became an extremely popular sport during and just after the American Civil War. It was called "America's Pastime" because during the late 19th and early 20th century it was probably the most widely played sport in the country. Baseball was to that time period as video games and television are to today. Before TV Baseball was what kids did after school and on the weekends and during the summer...etc. It was literally how America passed the time. Before the time of television, the internet, DVD's and the rise of American football, basketball, hockey, NASCAR, extreme sports, and the general splintering of American culture, baseball was probably one of the few things that almost every American knew something about and could discuss/share with their neighbors, coworkers, family members that they might sit down next to on a bus etc... Hence, it was the nation's pastime. I don't think, in this day and age, we have a "national pastime" anymore. Culture is simply too splintered. American football may the most popular sport, but being the most popular sport does not make something the "national pastime." They became no life.
Was the Mexican-American War a great war?
No, that would be an Oxymoron. Great War except defined in terms of area, scope, or moral standing can be great. (What a great time I had in the War). (Wasn't that a great little War?) (Did you have fun in the War? It was Great.) War is not great when it is up close and personal.
What gave the railroads the power to reshape American society even so far as telling Americans what time it was?
minecraft is great
American baseball is a combination of what two English sports?
American baseball contains elements of two British sports. One of these is cricket, which, like baseball, uses a bat to hit a ball. The other game is Rounders, which is a game dating back at least to the 16th century.
