THE ROARING 20'S
What made this decade so unusual? What elements defined the decade?
Let's find out!
|
Heywood Braun, " The Jazz Age was wicked and monstrous and silly." Unfortunately, I had a good time." |
Henry Ford, "I invented the modern age." |
Herbert Hoover, Oct. 25, 1929, "The fundamental business of the country is on a sound and prosperous basis." |
TASK: As you travel through the 20's, you will be responding to the questions posed on your handout. Please record your answers and hand the paper in at the end of the period. Handout to print
Before we start exploring, we need a definition of the "Roaring 20's." Check out the definition of the 1920's in the New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. While you're at the dictionary site, look at the definition of "culture." You may find some words that you can't define. That's ok. You'll find these terms explained as you proceed through the 20's.
First-hand memoirs of the times include quotes: "Oh, they lived. They really lived." "It was a period of high hope." "Carried away by the illusion of ever-increasing wealth." Take a quick look at these writings: American Experience
2 sites will be used exclusively to describe everything from the decade:
SIRS Decades - please use your business card to log-in
When you are logged in, click on the 1920s icon at the top of the page. On the left, you will find a listing of topics covering the decades. By clicking on each link, you will get an overview of each topic with hyperlinks to people, events, etc. that will give you additional information. This is a quick overview - stick to the topic explanation and you will be all set. When you have more time, you can peruse the articles at the bottom of the page. These are actual pictures and news articles from the 20's which cover such topics at Sacco and Vanzetti, the KKK, Al Capone, etc.
American Cultural Decade links from Kingwood College as we start our exploration. (Some of these links no longer work and I have provided additional links to the different topics at the bottom of this page)
When you are looking for the famous gangsters and learning about Prohibition, you will find one of the richest sites on the web is The Lawless Decade, which explores each year of the decade. There is a great deal of reading here, so you may want to use the cascading menu and just look at portions of the site. (Turn your volume way down!)
Are you really getting into the decade? Here are some links to expand your knowledge:
Great overviews of culture and history of the time period:
A history of US - overview from PBS
Digital History of the 20's - list of topics to pursue
Flapper Station : Antique Automobiles,Classic Radio,Jazz and Vaudeville from the Flapper Era
Jazz Age Culture, Part I - The Flapper. Jazz Age Culture, Part II - Modernist and Harlem Renaissance Art; Jazz Age Culture, Part III - The Harlem Renaissance Writers
Authentic History site - audio and images of the 20's
Music:
The Jazz Age from PBS
Flapper Music - Listen to it!
The Roaring 20s Concert Extravaganza - hear short clips from the singers and performers of the era.
Films:
Fashion:
A Fashion Show from the 20's - slide show
People:
The "Babe"
Charlie Chaplin, American Masters on PBS
Lindbergh Does It! To Paris in 33 1/2 Hours! "Lucky Lindy" crosses the Atlantic in the Spirit of St Louis
Capone, from Chicago's History Site
Events:
Crash of 1929, New York Times on the Web
FBI Case Histories - Al Capone
Prohibition in the 20's, Prohibition from American Experience
Harlem Renaissance - an incredible site