The Century: America's Time
Reporter Peter Jennings hosts this important series that chronicles the events and experiences of America in the twentieth century, the century that Henry Luce dubbed
Episode 3, Boom to Bust
The 1920s ushered in an era of great social change, general prosperity, Prohibition and what historians refer to as
Discussion Questions
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Broadway is one of the most famous boulevards in American. Why is Broadway known as the
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How did Prohibition help increase the presence of organized crime in America?
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Discuss how the culture of the 1920s broke and transgressed different boundaries in American society, especially the accepted roles for women.
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The media has had a tremendous influence on the twentieth century. What were the effects of the mass media on the 1920s?
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The 1920s saw a burgeoning of African-American culture and talent, centered in the Harlem section of New York City. Discuss the contribution of the Harlem Renaissance to American art and literature.
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Discuss some of the social tenets of the Harlem Renaissance.
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In the 1920s, for the first time in the countryıs history, more Americans lived in an urban setting than a rural one. Discuss the process of urbanization and how it affected the country.
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Compare rural and urban areas in the 1920s.
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Discuss the role of advertising in the 1920s.
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Discuss some of the changes for women in the 1920s.
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How did the Scopes trial illustrate the clash between science and religion that was a hallmark of the early century?
Extended Activities
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Although many experienced economic prosperity in the 1920s, many did not. Research the economic history of the 1920s and discuss how many, especially farmers and factory workers, did not share in this prosperity. How did these economic conditions contribute to the Great Depression?
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Design and create a poster illustrating the radical changes in styles between the Victorian Era and the 1920s.
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Read F. Scott Fitzgeraldıs The Great Gatsby. How did Fitzgerald define the era?
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