WRITE-UP INTRODUCTION
The Roaring Twenties are remembered for two main reasons: the economic boom that came before the Great Depression and an explosion of culture and cultural contributions which have had a lasting impact on American society. The "roar" of the 1920s refers to both of these ideas.
The economic boom and the explosion of culture both overshadow some very harsh realities about America's social structure during the Roaring Twenties. Not everyone benefited from the prosperous economy of the United States at this time. And not everyone experienced the highs of the cultural explosion. Yet this is what many students are taught and what most textbooks focus on.
For this learning target you will begin by independently researching contributions to American culture during this era. Ultimately, our goal is to evaluate the problems with America's social structure in the 1920s. But learning more about cultural contributions will allow us to have a very important discussion about how culture and pop culture especially can overshadow more serious issues.
WRITE-UP SECTION #1
What is culture?
Culture is a variety of different things all bundled up together. When we discuss culture we're usually talking about the arts and how a people express themselves. But we're also talking about the customs, habits, and mindsets that define our society and social groups within our society.
WRITE-UP SECTION #2
What is social structure?
Social structure is the way that society divides itself into different groups. This almost always involves different groups having more power, wealth, or status than others. Groups within a social structure are determined by many different factors but usually the two most significant are race and money. Thus we have divisions in our own society between black and white, rich and poor, men and women, and so on.
The Roaring Twenties are remembered for two main reasons: the economic boom that came before the Great Depression and an explosion of culture and cultural contributions which have had a lasting impact on American society. The "roar" of the 1920s refers to both of these ideas.
The economic boom and the explosion of culture both overshadow some very harsh realities about America's social structure during the Roaring Twenties. Not everyone benefited from the prosperous economy of the United States at this time. And not everyone experienced the highs of the cultural explosion. Yet this is what many students are taught and what most textbooks focus on.
For this learning target you will begin by independently researching contributions to American culture during this era. Ultimately, our goal is to evaluate the problems with America's social structure in the 1920s. But learning more about cultural contributions will allow us to have a very important discussion about how culture and pop culture especially can overshadow more serious issues.
WRITE-UP SECTION #1
What is culture?
Culture is a variety of different things all bundled up together. When we discuss culture we're usually talking about the arts and how a people express themselves. But we're also talking about the customs, habits, and mindsets that define our society and social groups within our society.
WRITE-UP SECTION #2
What is social structure?
Social structure is the way that society divides itself into different groups. This almost always involves different groups having more power, wealth, or status than others. Groups within a social structure are determined by many different factors but usually the two most significant are race and money. Thus we have divisions in our own society between black and white, rich and poor, men and women, and so on.
THE ONLY BASIC MASTERY TASK OPTION
Choose a research topic from the list provided below. Then use any of the posted Wikipedia articles to do research and answer the following questions:
Choose a research topic from the list provided below. Then use any of the posted Wikipedia articles to do research and answer the following questions:
- Describe the culture of the United States during the Roaring Twenties in terms of your research topic. Consider and explain what was contributed to our culture, who was involved, what was popular, and what changed about American culture during this time period.
- What is the significance of these contributions to American culture?
THE ONLY PROFICIENT MASTERY TASK OPTION
Choose a research topic from the list provided below. Then use any of the posted Wikipedia articles to do research and answer the following questions:
Choose a research topic from the list provided below. Then use any of the posted Wikipedia articles to do research and answer the following questions:
- Describe the culture of the United States during the Roaring Twenties in terms of your research topic. Consider and explain what was contributed to our culture, who was involved, what was popular, and what changed about American culture during this time period.
- What is the significance of these contributions to American culture?
- What can we learn about the different peoples of America or the social structure of the United States during the Roaring Twenties by analyzing this topic?
Revise and polish your work.
Complete multiple proficient mastery tasks.
- Talk with Mr. Brock about how you can improve your work. Sometimes this might just mean making corrections. Sometimes it might mean expanding on your ideas though further writing and reflection. Sometimes it might mean pursuing more research from different sources. Each case will consider unique consideration but it starts with asking Mr. Brock how you can go above and beyond.
Complete multiple proficient mastery tasks.
- Demonstrating your knowledge and skills for several options shows a willingness to go above and beyond. Being able to connect ideas from different mastery tasks to each other also demonstrates an advanced level of mastery.
"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn [History Is A Weapon]
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
Crash Course US History @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s
Khan Academy History @ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC6B9F15C835224C
Recommended Wikipedia Articles
Depression of 1920-21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_of_1920%E2%80%9321
Roaring Twenties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Twenties
Labor history of the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Red_Scare
Red Summer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Summer_of_1919
Consumerism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism
Social Darwinism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_darwinism
Eugenics in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States
“Causes” section of the Great Depression article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_depression#Causes
“Margin buying” section of the Margin article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margin_(finance)#Margin_buying
Wall Street Crash of 1929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929
Great Depression in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_the_United_States
Bonus Army
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_army
New Deal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal
Alphabet agencies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_agencies
Dust Bowl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl
Recession of 1937-1938
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession_of_1937-1938
Check the table of contents for...
Relevant Textbook Chapters
Ch.13 A Turbulent Decade, 1919-1929
Postwar troubles, the Republicans in power, a nation divided…
Ch.14 The Jazz Age, 1920-1929
Boom times, life in the twenties, a creative era…
Ch.15 The Great Depression, 1929-1933
Prosperity shattered, hard times, Hoover’s policies…
Ch.16 The New Deal, 1933-1939
Restoring hope, new challenges, life in the New Deal era, the New Deal and the arts…
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
Crash Course US History @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s
Khan Academy History @ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC6B9F15C835224C
Recommended Wikipedia Articles
Depression of 1920-21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_of_1920%E2%80%9321
Roaring Twenties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Twenties
Labor history of the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Red_Scare
Red Summer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Summer_of_1919
Consumerism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism
Social Darwinism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_darwinism
Eugenics in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics_in_the_United_States
“Causes” section of the Great Depression article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_depression#Causes
“Margin buying” section of the Margin article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margin_(finance)#Margin_buying
Wall Street Crash of 1929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929
Great Depression in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_the_United_States
Bonus Army
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_army
New Deal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal
Alphabet agencies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_agencies
Dust Bowl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl
Recession of 1937-1938
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession_of_1937-1938
Check the table of contents for...
Relevant Textbook Chapters
Ch.13 A Turbulent Decade, 1919-1929
Postwar troubles, the Republicans in power, a nation divided…
Ch.14 The Jazz Age, 1920-1929
Boom times, life in the twenties, a creative era…
Ch.15 The Great Depression, 1929-1933
Prosperity shattered, hard times, Hoover’s policies…
Ch.16 The New Deal, 1933-1939
Restoring hope, new challenges, life in the New Deal era, the New Deal and the arts…