This document provides an overview of the social and political climate of the 1920s in the United States and how it relates to F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. It discusses the introduction of Prohibition and the rise of speakeasies and bootlegging. It also mentions women gaining the right to vote with the 19th amendment and the emergence of the "flapper" generation of young independent women. Additionally, it outlines the growth of the automobile industry and mass production, as well as the experiences of black Americans during this time period with the Great Migration to northern cities and rise of segregation.

1. The Roaring Twenties
The Great Gatsby
English 1 Grades 9-10
Ms. Meagan Maxey

2. Learning Objectives + CA Content Standards
 To understand the:
 SOCIAL
 POLITICAL
 climate of the 1920’s and how it influenced
the novel, The Great Gatsby
 Reading Standard for Informational Text 6-12
 Integration of knowledge and Ideas
 9. Analyze seminal U.S. documents of
historical and literary significance
 (e.g., Washington’s Farewell Address, the
Gettysburg Address, Roosevelt’s Four
Freedoms speech, King’s “Letter from
Birmingham Jail”), including how they
address related themes and concepts.

3. First You Try:
What do you already know about the
social and political climate of the 1920’s?
In other words, what was going on in
America during the 1920’s?

4. Let’s get started…
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfOR1XCMf7A

5. Overview
18th Amendment
19Th Amendment
Automobile Industry
Black Americans

6. 18th Amendment
“After one year from the ratification of this article the
manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating
liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the United States and all
territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for
beverage purposes is hereby prohibited”.

7. Vocab
Prohibition: legal prevention of the manufacture, sale
and transportation of alcohol in the US from 2910-1933
Bootlegging: the act of smuggling foreign made
commercial liquor into the US
Speakeasies: illegal establishments that sold alcohol,
bars and clubs
*women were participating

8. Now You Try:
Why do you think the American Government
signed prohibition into law?
What possible intentions could the Government
possibly have?

9. 19th Amendment
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by
any State on account of sex”

10. “I hope she'll be a fool,
that's the best thing a girl
can be in this world, a
beautiful little fool “
Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby
Now You Try:
Why did Daisy say
this?
What did she
mean?

11. Flapper
young women known for their energetic
freedom, embracing a lifestyle viewed by
many at the time as immoral
Now considered the first generation of
independent American women, flappers
pushed barriers in economic, political and
sexual freedom for women

12. Automobile Industry and Mass Production
 Assembly line
 Accounted for 7% of all factory workers
 Accounted for 12% revenue
 Ford, Chrysler and General Motors
 For many middle-class Americans could now
afford automobiles
 Henry Ford's advances in assembly-line
efficiency created a truly affordable
automobile, making car ownership a
possibility for many Americans

13. On the top: Modern
boxcar that middle
Americans drove
On the bottom: Gatsby
Rolls Royce, only the rich
could afford

14. Black Americans
 Influx of Black Americans to Harlem, New York
Segregation was illegal in New York however “de facto“
segregation took place
Rise of the KKK

16. Now You Try: What 2 concepts from the social
and political climate of the 1920’s can be seen or
inferred in the Great Gatsby?
Answer the prompt on a piece of paper and turn it in. You will
have the rest of the period to finish your quick write activity, you
should write almost a full page.