Roaring 20s

Introduction

Welcome, students! The 1920s were a transformative period in American history. After the hardships of World War I, Americans experienced economic growth, social change, and cultural innovation. This era included Prohibition, the rise of organized crime, the Red Scare, changes in immigration policy, and booming consumer culture. In this WebQuest, you will explore key aspects of the 1920s, analyze primary and secondary sources, and create a short multimedia presentation to explain how these changes shaped modern America. By the end, you will understand who benefited, who struggled, and how the 1920s set the stage for the Great Depression.

Task

Your task is to become a historian of the 1920s. You will research the following topics:

  1. Prohibition and organized crime

  2. The Red Scare and nativism

  3. Immigration policies of the 1920s

  4. Economic prosperity and inequality

  5. Cultural changes including music, fashion, and consumer goods

Using your research, you will create a 5–7 slide multimedia presentation (Google Slides, PowerPoint, or similar) that:

  • Explains each of the topics above

  • Includes at least one primary source or image per topic

  • Answers the essential question: How did the 1920s transform American society, and who gained or lost from these changes?

Process

Follow these steps to complete your WebQuest:

Step 1 — Research

Use the resources below to gather information. Take notes on key events, people, laws, and social changes.

Step 2 — Organize

Create a chart or outline with five sections:

  • Prohibition & organized crime

  • Red Scare & nativism

  • Immigration policies

  • Economy: prosperity vs. poverty

  • Cultural changes

Step 3 — Analyze

For each section, answer:

  • What happened?

  • Why did it happen?

  • Who benefited? Who suffered?

  • How does this affect the world today?

Step 4 — Create Presentation

  • Include 1–2 images or charts per topic

  • Write clear slide titles

  • Add at least 3 quotes or facts from primary sources

  • Cite your sources

Step 5 — Share

Present your slides to the class. Be ready to explain why these events mattered and answer questions from classmates.

Evaluation

Your project will be graded based on:

Category Points Description
Research 20 Accurate information with at least 10 sources
Organization 15 Clear outline, logical order
Analysis 25 Shows understanding of causes, effects, winners, losers
Presentation 20 Slides are clear, visually appealing, include images/charts
Sources & Citations 10 At least 10 sources correctly cited
Participation 10 Active participation in discussion and Q&A

Total: 100 points

Conclusion

The 1920s were a decade of extremes: wealth and poverty, freedom and fear, innovation and backlash. By completing this WebQuest, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these events shaped modern America and learn how to analyze historical sources like a historian. Remember, history is not just about memorizing facts; it’s about understanding people, events, and consequences.

Credits