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Investigating the 1920's

Students investigate the United States in the 1920's while making connections to the The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Introduction

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American writer of fiction whose work spanned the years between World Wars I and II. He was a master of the short story and the novel of manners. In his writings, he helped to create the image of the Jazz Age. Throughout the 1920's, Fitzgerald's life and much of his fiction was preoccupied with Zelda Sayre, the Alabama girl he married immediately after the publication of his first novel. The Fitzgerald's' disorderly lives both mirrored and created the pattern for others of the 1920's generation. They lived a life of drinking, partying, and endless talk. While living in Europe, Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. In the novel, Fitzgerald explored the nature of romance and the conflicts in the 1920's between materialism and idealism.

The 1920's in the United States was a period where many Americans prospered while many others struggled. It was a time where the growth of business, the relationship between workers and management, and technological advancement came to the forefront. It was the time of Henry Ford, John L. Lewis, and Sacco and Vanzetti.

In this investigation, you are the director of leading historical museum which will be opening an exhibit on the period of American History called the Roaring 20's. The exhibit will include political, historical, and cultural information about the period, along with a special section highlighting F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby.

In order to complete this investigation and assignment, you must complete the following tasks. You should utilize online resources and other materials (textbook, public library, oral histories, etc...) as necessary to access information.

1. Research and investigate the following questions. Prepare notes on what information you find to answer the questions.

• What was the political climate during the 1920's?
• What key historical events occurred during the 1920's?
• What technological and industrial advances occurred during the 1920's?
• What cultural qualities were significant at the time? How could the period be identified culturally?
• How did The Great Gatsby represent the 1920's?

2. Design a museum exhibit for the 1920's and The Great Gatsby. Complete the following in order to do this. The exhibit should include political, historical, and cultural information about the period, along with a special section highlighting F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby.

• On the computer (or on poster paper) using a drawing or web page design program, design a floor plan for your exhibit. Include visual representations for each section of the exhibit.
• Write a written explanation of each section of the exhibit providing explanations and clear detail.
• Write an explanation of the exhibit summarizing the main components for the local newspaper.

Utilize the following online resources in order to complete the assigned investigation and tasks. Students are encouraged to locate other resources at the library or on the Internet.

• The Great Gatsby Project
• F. Scott Fitzgerald Centenary
• A Beginners Guide to The Great Gatsby
• The 1920's
• The 1920's: A Nation in Flux
• 1920's Experience
• Black Thursday: October 24, 1929
• The Roaring Twenties
• Overview of the Sacco and Vanzetti Case
• Crime Library: Al Capone
• Twenties Reconstruction Society

As you read the novel The Great Gatsby, search through the above online resources, and explore other resources such as the textbook and the public library, remember to take notes and take the time to reflect upon your research. Your intent has been to access information and gain understanding from a variety of resources on the United States during the 1920's. The 1920's were an era of prosperity and poverty. While many Americans appeared to live so highly, many others struggled to find work and appropriate working conditions. The 1920's was a post war decade. The lesson was intended to provide knowledge and understanding about this decade of American History.