PBL+1920s


 * Unit Point Total: 50 Points **

The decade of the 1920s is known by many names: “Roaring Twenties”, “Jazz Age”, “Age of the Flapper”, “Golden Twenties”, “Dollar Decade”, “Lost Generation”, “New Era”, “Age of Ballyhoo”. What do these terms even mean? Do they leave us with an accurate history of an entire decade?

Our PBL question for this unit is:


 * When most people think of the 1920s, they think of a decade symbolized by the name the ‘Roaring 20s’. However, there were many negative sides to the decade as well. Is it fair to think of the decade as the ‘Roaring 20s’ in spite of its negative sides? Why or why not? **


 * Assignment #1: Slang in the 1920’s (turn in: 5 points) **

1. What 1920s slang (if any) is used by YOU today? 2. What are some of your favorite 1920s slang terms on the list NOT IN USE TODAY? 3. With your group members, try to categorize 1920s slang (ex: fashion, automobiles). AT LEAST THREE CATEGORIES. 4. What can 1920s slang tell us about society during the Jazz Age? Does it show the Roaring or Warring 20s? 5. Does 1920s slang paint an accurate portrait of society in the 1920s? If not, what aspects of culture are not represented?

For each document in your textbook, Chapter 7 of __The American Vision__ (or __online version)__, do the following: a. Give a brief statement summarizing the historical background of the document. (each question contains either a primary or secondary source) b. Does the document suggest a conflict or an example of the “roaring” in the 1920’s? Explain.
 * Assignment #2: The 1920s: Roaring or Warring? (turn in: 10 points) **

1. New Immigrants, pg. 408 (relate to Sacco and Vanzetti, pg. 407) 2. Prohibition in Action (pgs. 412-413) 3. Popular Culture (image on pg. 421, information on pgs. 420-21) 4. Cotton Club (pg. 428, image on 429) 5. Black Nationalism and Marcus Garvey, pg. 430-431 6. Teapot Dome Scandal, pg. 446 7. Profiles in History, Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart, pg. 452 8. Farm Wages, pg. 454 (reading on pg. 455)

9. The Assembly Line, pg. 451 (relate to the chart on pg. 463) Video can be found at: Boom or Bust: The Century Video
 * Assignment #3: The 1920s: Roaring or Warring, The Century: Boom or Bust (Turn in: 5 points) **

1. Name two ways that New York City became symbolic of the roar in the Roaring 20s. 2. What was the New Negro? Was it an example of roaring or warring? 3. How did the automobile affect not only people’s lives, but the American physical landscape as well? 4. How was the Scopes Monkey Trial symbolic of the “warring” aspect of the 1920s? 5. What was ironic about the manner in which the 1920s ended?


 * Assignment #4 - Essay (Turn in: 30 points) **

(please refer to this to remind yourself how this will be graded)

Question: When most people think of the 1920s, they think of a decade symbolized by the name the ‘Roaring 20s’. However, there were many negative sides to the decade as well. Is it fair to think of the decade as the ‘Roaring 20s’ in spite of its negative sides? Why or why not?