This WebQuest provides students with an introduction to the Roaring Twenties, an important time period
when reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The Great Gatsby. This novel, set in 1922, is an
exemplary novel of the Roaring Twenties.
Introduction
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, takes place during the Roaring Twenties. Characterized as "a
swinging time of flappers, bathtub gin, and high spirits," the Roaring Twenties was an "exhilarating period
when America could achieve anything, from flying across oceans, to discovering the mysteries of the past,
to unlocking the secrets of life itself.” As you complete this WebQuest, you will explore themes that will
bring this vibrant period to life for you. These themes include:
1) Fashion, Music, and Dancing in the 1920s
2) Automobiles in the 1920s
3) The 18th Amendment
4) Famous People, Events, and Inventions of the 1920s
5) The 19th Amendment
Task
Your task is to use the Web as a resource to help you learn about the Roaring Twenties
Using the provided links, you are going to:
1) Complete and turn in the 1920s WebQuest worksheet
2) Create a poster exemplifying one theme or theme item of the Roaring Twenties
*Be creative with this poster! Please include a title, interesting facts about the theme or theme item
you pick, and relevant pictures with captions.
Process
Use these resources! They will help you answer your questions
and help you create your poster!
Theme 1: Fashion, Music and Dancing
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Flapper
Fashion
History of Jazz
Jazz Culture
The Jazz Age
Dance
Dance Etiquette
Theme 2: Automobiles
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Henry Ford
The Life of Henry Ford
1920 Automobiles
Theme 3: The 18th Amendment
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18th Amendment
Speakeasy
Bootlegging
Moonshine
Theme 4: Famous People, Events, and Inventions
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Harry Houdini
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson
Al Capone
Clara Bow
1919 World Series
Scopes Monkey Trial
Lindbergh
Inventions of the 1920s
Theme 5: The 19th Amendment
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The 19th Amendment
NAWSA
Women's Suffrage Timeline
History of Women's Suffrage
WebQuest Worksheet Questions
Theme 1: Fashion, Music and Dancing
Fashion
1. What is a flapper? (Describe their behaviors and who they were) ________________________________
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2. What is the "Bob" hairstyle? _____________________________________________________________
3. What was considered fashionable attire and accessories in the 1920s? ____________________________
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4. How did the new clothing of the 1920s reflect changing social values? ___________________________
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Music
1. What is the "Jazz Age"? _________________________________________________________________
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2. Who are three influential jazz artists from the 1920s? _________________________________________
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3. What was so different about jazz compared to the other popular music of the day? __________________
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Dancing
1. Name and define two popular dances during the 1920s. ________________________________________
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2. How did dance etiquette change in the 1920s? _______________________________________________
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Theme 2: Automobiles
1. Who is Henry Ford and why is he important? ________________________________________________
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2. Why were cars considered the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920's? _______________
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3. Describe the cars of the era.______________________________________________________________
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Theme 3: The 18th Amendment
1. What exactly does the 18th amendment abolish? What was the result? ____________________________
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2. What is a Speakeasy? ___________________________________________________________________
3. What is "bootlegging"? _________________________________________________________________
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What is Moonshine? _____________________________________________________________________
Theme 4: Famous People, Events, and Inventions
Who is:
1. Harry Houdini? _______________________________________________________________________
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2. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson? ________________________________________________________________
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3. Al Capone? ___________________________________________________________________________
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4. Clara Bow? ___________________________________________________________________________
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What happened in:
1. The 1919 World Series? _________________________________________________________________
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2. The Scopes Monkey Trial? ______________________________________________________________
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3. The Lindbergh Solo Flight? ______________________________________________________________
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Inventions:
1. Name 5 inventions of the 1920s (include description of invention and inventors’ names).
a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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d) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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e) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Theme 5: The 19th Amendment
1. What right did women gain from the passage of the 19th Amendment? ____________________________
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2. What is NAWSA? _____________________________________________________________________
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