Why are there so few skyscrapers in the US?

I've been told there's more skyscrapers in Shanghai than the entire US West Coast.  Discuss.

Americans like their privacy and many like owning their own backyard. With skyscrapers, everything is cramped into one tiny ass area, so we do opt to construct urban sprawls and drive 15miles to work instead of walking down the block or jumping on a public transportation system. Its also cheaper for us to build out  instead of up at the moment since we have so much unused land. I wont be surprised if soaring oil prices change America's future construction plans though.