If there has ever been an endearing and popular form of entertainment that has stood the test of time to remain significant in a world where cutthroat competition is the order of the day, it is the circus. However, the role of the American circus in shaping the history and culture of America is often sidelined. The circus in America (2004), gives a detailed survey of the history of the American circus indicates that “the history of the circus is in many ways a microcosm of the history of America” During the 20th century, it is said that the American circus was comparable to many things in terms of time, place, and geography. For starters, all the other entertainment activities that conformed to similar ways of entertainment are considered as parallels and competent competitors of the American circus. In addition to that, all the other circuses circulating around the world are considered to have been a great threat to the American circus, since they exposed it to various different challenges in different forms, for instance, certain activities were viewed as a threat to the power and stronghold of the American circus. Also considering the American circus of a different time period also serves as a parallel of the 20th-century circus of America. The circus has been instrumental in the shaping of fascinatingly democratic public entertainment. An American studies professor at the University of Texas states that the circus has had a significant cultural impact, particularly the railroad circus and it evolved to be a powerful and significant cultural icon in American history. She further indicated that the circus was representative of the gender and racial mix that is characteristic of the America of today and illustrates the precedent that determined America’s emergence of global power. However, Davis further emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive analysis of the circus subculture in lieu of a larger context as opposed to the confinement of social institutions (Davis, 2004). Circus freaks were rare human occurrences as per the times. For example, a Sumatran woman covered with long flowing hair was considered to be the missing link between humans and a gorilla! This was probably because by then the aberration in humans had not been scientifically explained and when science finally did explain, it was apparent to the showmen that there were even more physical abnormalities and were by far nothing special. While this was dehumanizing, it had the upside of creating employment for someone who would have otherwise been unemployed. This trend is often seen in modern America, with many taking employment positions, especially within the entertainment circles because of their special qualities. Introduction The first circuses of the world were in Rome and involved pachyderms and chariot racing. They also involved entertainment from strong athletes who performed acrobatic feats, daring equestrians, and animal duels that left the Roman audiences in awe and demanding more. However, the dark ages befell Europe, and so, the circus was soon forgotten. Groups of moving performers kept the fire of the circus burning in the hearts of the populace. When the circus arrived in America, it was well received and by the onset of the 20th centu