Great Gatsby: The Roaring '20s!

To have a greater understand about the era set in Great Gatsby, students must answer the following questions with the sources provided and any other sources needed in complete sentences. Students may complete this assignment before or after reading the book.

There are five categories that must be completed: Before 1920, The Rich, The Poor, Crime, and Culture.

Each question must be answered in complete sentences and do not copy and paste.

This should be complete in a couple of in-class days. Should students need extra time they may stay after school or complete it for homework. If you do not have internet at home, you may print out the questions and articles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfOR1XCMf7A

Much of the backstory of Gatsby and other characters is Before 1920, use this article here to answer the questions.

1. When did the US join World War I?
2. When did World War I start?
3. When did the Lusitania sink?
4. When did Bell and Watson use the telephone between New York and San Francisco?
5. When did the 18th Amendment pass?
6. What started World War I?
7. What happened on June 28, 1919?

The main focus are The Rich people in Great Gatsby, use this article to answer these questions.

1. What upsurged in ownership?
2. What type of boom occurred?
3. How much did the radios increase from?
4. What was the price of the 'Tin Lizzie' in 1920?
5. How much did car ownership increase?
6. What clubs were common for entertainment?
7. What came along with urban development?
8. Did Wall Street boom or collapse in 1920?

The Poor are an integral part of the 1920s and Great Gatsby, use this article here to answer the questions.

1. What areas did not have electricity?
2. Who could not afford the mortgages?
3. How many were unemployed?
4. Who earned 33% of the income?
5. How many were below the poverty line?
6. What was replacing coal?
7. How many black farm workers lost their jobs?
8. What 'fixed the market'?
9. What made countries reduce trade with the US?
10. What New York district became overpopulated?

Crime, specifically bootlegging, is a prominent feature in Great Gatsby, use this article here to complete the questions.

1. What caused organized crime to rise?
2. What are speakeasies?
3. Why was Capone untouchable?
4. What is labor racketeering?
5. How much was Glimco earning?
6. What is bootlegging?

The Culture of the 1920s was a decade of social and economic change, use this website to answer the questions.

1. When did the housing boom start?
2. Who were flappers?
3. What act placed high tariffs on US imports?
4. When was "Great Gatsby' published?
5. When was the New Yorker magazine published?
6. Who announced the 40-hour work week in 1926?
7. When did Wall Street crash?

Students will be graded based on completion of each question. Every question must be answered in a complete sentence.

Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the setting in Great Gatsby.

Discuss with classmates about the 1920s and the book. if you have read it.

Have a nice day!