Why is it relevant to study the literature of the 1920's today?
Did you ever hear that phrase, "You can't know where you're going, until you know where you've been?"
We may not think the study of our own history or society are important, but it is the past that shapes the present, and our present that shapes our future. Although the 1920's were almost a century ago now, many relevant changes occurred that have had great impact on our lives today.
This website is designed to help educators who are looking to teach about the 1920's through literature, whether in a history, social studies, or English/language arts classroom and provide resources and some comprehensive lesson plans and activities that can be used as an aide to teaching about this time period. This website can provide some especially helpful background information for students and educators alike that can be used while reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, "The Great Gatsby."
Some of the major events of the 1920's:
- Volstead Act (January 16, 1920) - this act made it illegal to sell or purchase alcohol (prohibition) and lead to a huge rise in crime.
- Red Scare - People were terrified of communism and immigration into the United States came to a near standstill. It lead to hostility and hatred of immigrants and caused many devastating anti-ethnic sentiments.
- Efficient Assembly Lines- Although Henry Ford created the first assembly line in 1913, they were not in full use until 1927 when all car parts were made at assembly lines and productivity skyrocketed.
- Stock Market Crash (October, 1929) - in a matter of only four days, prices of stocks dropped by more than half, with devastating consequences to many individuals and companies.
- Jazz Age & Harlem Renaissance - the mistreatment and despair of many African Americans leads to a new form of jazz music and an explosion of African American culture into music, art and writing, known as the Harlem Renaissance.
- Suffrage & Women's Rights - after many years of protest, women are finally granted the right to vote on August 18th, 1920 with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment which states that "The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
Resources:
http://www.albany.edu/faculty/jjpowers/risp361/projects/F_Viau_Jim/home1.htm
A nicely put together website with background information about the 1920's that relates directly to F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
http://www.shmoop.com/1920s/timeline.html
An easy to use timeline of the 1920's with descriptions of major events and links where students and educators alike can go to find more information.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CONAN-1992/html/GPO-CONAN-1992-10-20.htm
A link to the official words from the Nineteenth Amendment, useful for studying women's rights.
A nicely put together website with background information about the 1920's that relates directly to F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
http://www.shmoop.com/1920s/timeline.html
An easy to use timeline of the 1920's with descriptions of major events and links where students and educators alike can go to find more information.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CONAN-1992/html/GPO-CONAN-1992-10-20.htm
A link to the official words from the Nineteenth Amendment, useful for studying women's rights.