One of the most popular things to have at the time was a hoop dress or skirt. These were popular because they showed off wealth, sophistication, and glamor.

The most common toy for boys was toy guns, these were usually made from wood and paint. Toy gun were popular because young boys saw the men coming home from war and heard their story’s. These men were strong, brave, and young boys wanted to be like them so they played war.

The most popular toy for girls was porcelain dolls. Dolls were popular because they reinforced beauty ideals such as long curly hair, soft pale skin, blue eyes, and long beautiful dresses.

The most common mode of transportation was through railways and trains. Another mode of transportation was, if you could afford …show more content…
Many people were writing dramas about the war and slavery. Many people were also reading and writing poetry about losing and missing loved ones during the war. The most popular books at the time was “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins.

In the Reconstruction Era balls were very popular. The most popular ball was the masquerade and the most common dance was the waltz.

Popular kinds of music were folk songs and political protest songs. In 1867 “Slave songs of the United States” was published. This was the first ad most influential collection of slave songs to be published. In 1871 Will S. Hay published “The little old cabin on the lane,” this was one of the most popular songs of the era.

The most common jobs for men were farmers, traders, lumbermen, and industrial workers. The most common jobs for women were teachers. Many women stayed at home and cooked, cleaned, and took care of children and elders. In 1860 employment rates went up quite a bit because jobs were opening up at factories for building train tracks and train cars.

The average weekly income for a sixty hour work week was around eight to nine dollars. The average yearly income was about two hundred seventy seven