Objective

The goal of this project is to track the evolution of sports in the United States from 1877 to 2016. It uses a key aspect from each major period to show how sports have mirrored and influenced wider societal changes. Through thorough research that includes both primary and secondary academic sources, this project seeks to illustrate how sports evolved from early professionalization to racial integration, and finally to modern commercialization and global impact. By linking historical events to cultural and economic changes, this project shows that sports are not just games, they are powerful reflections of American values, struggles, and progress. As a student who loves statistics, economics, and sports, I chose this topic because it combines my academic interests with my passion for sports. This project lets me investigate how sports changed from casual activities to organized, commercial, and global events while also addressing important issues like racial integration and economic change.

Time Periods Covered

To demonstrate change over time, the project is organized into three key periods:

1877–1909: The rise of professional sports with baseball emerging as America’s national pastime.

1910–1959: The struggle for racial integration and representation in sports, highlighted by Jackie Robinson’s groundbreaking entry into Major League Baseball.

1960–2016: The commercialization and globalization of American sports, fueled by television, corporate sponsorships, and the rise of athlete activism.

Learning Goals

Through this project, I aim to deepen understanding of how sports act as a powerful lens into American history, revealing patterns of social inclusion and exclusion, economic development, and cultural identity. I hope visitors will appreciate the complex ways sports have influenced and been influenced by the society around them.

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