The 1920s and 1930s, the era between world wars, began with a decade of prosperity and modernization and ended with a decade of economic crisis that touched all levels of society. It was a time rich in personal triumphs and tragedies that reflect the issues of a changing society. Students can read a letter written by Albert Einstein that gives Franklin D. Roosevelt warnings and recommendations concerning the development of an atomic bomb. They can explore the issue of racism and the trial of the Scottsboro Boys through the writing of Langston Hughes. They can argue the issue of standards and censorship in the movies based on a letter from film producer David O. Selznick. By reviewing a variety of advertisements from the 1920s, students can identify interests and trends of society.
Academic activities include small-group discussions and projects, essay writing, letter writing, proposal writing, reading and analysis of documents, questioning, brainstorming, comparing and contrasting past with present, creating political cartoons, creating posters, dramatization, and simulations.
Early Nation: 1791-1820,Revolution and Constitution: 1763-1791,America in World War II: The 1940s,Reconstruction 1865-1877,America in Upheaval: The 1960s,Colonization: 1521-1763,Antebellum America and Civil War: 1840-1865,Expansive America: 1877-1898,America’s Turn to the Right: The 1980s,Consensus and Conformity: The 1950s,Jacksonian America: 1820-1840,Disillusioned America: The 1970s,Technological Revolution: The 1990s,America in the Age of Imperialism: 1898-1920,Interwar America: 1920-1940
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