Life in 1860  A Primer for Vintage Base Ball Interpreters  prepared by the Vintage Base Ball Association  Education and Interpretation Committee

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• Basic citizenship.
U. S. President
U. S. Vice President
states in the union
map of U. S.
 
 
• Population statistics compiled from the 8th decennial census of the United States.
1860 population
immigration
population of states where vintage base ball is commonly played today
territory population
African-American population
common occupations
 
 
• Current events.
John Brown raid
secession threats
1860 presidential campaign and election
 
 
• Culture.
publishing - popular authors and titles
recent words added to the dictionary
music - popular songs, traveling performers, choral societies, opera, brass bands
theatre -
architecture - Greek Revival, Gothic Revival
faith - Holiness Movement, Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
cultural movements - temperance, transcendentalism, (to come) abolitionism and the underground railway, womens' rights, rise of state universities, land reform
politcal movements - dissolution of the Whig Party and establishment of the Republican Party, rise and fall of the American Party (Know-Nothings), creation of Constitutional Union party.
 
 
• Daily living.
work
social, fraternal and heritage organizations
fashions
tobacco and alcohol use
currency and postage
conveyances
 
 
• Technology and advancements.
Recent inventions and notable events in the Industrial Age
transportation
telegraphy
photography
 
 
• Bibliography.