Final answer:
P.T. Barnum began touring with circus acts in 1835, captivating audiences with large-scale performances and curiosities like the 'Feejee Mermaid' in his American Museum.
Step-by-step explanation:
P.T. Barnum began touring the United States in 1835 with circus acts, which quickly became a popular form of entertainment. His circus performances were well-known for their large scale and offered a mix of spectacle, drama, and novelty. They included everything from acrobatics and clowning to exotic animals and oddities, strongly appealing to the tastes of the working class of the mid-nineteenth century. Barnum's American Museum also attracted millions with exhibits of human and animal curiosities, many of which, such as the infamous "Feejee Mermaid", were hoaxes.