Culture
This 1920s cultural group in literature produced writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway
The Lost Generation
Which constitutional amendment began Prohibition in 1920?
The 18th Amendment
Between 1914 and 1926, the number of literate adults increased significantly. Give 1 example of why
Between 1914 and 1926 the number of high school students rose dramatically; The military taught recruits to read and write in boot camp
What was the purpose of the Emergency Quota Act?
To limit numbers of immigrants from certain countries and favor earlier source countries (nativist goal—“Keep America for Americans”).
Name two major mass‑media forms that helped create a shared national culture in the 1920s.
Radio, Newspapers, Movies, Magazines
Name the 1925 trial that became a national spectacle over teaching evolution in public schools.
The Monkey Scopes Trial
What was one major effect on industry and employment when World War I ended?
Returning soldiers faced unemployment; wartime orders ended, causing industry slowdown; cost of living rose.
Countries in what area were excluded from the Emergency Quota Act?
Western Hemisphere sources (e.g., Mexicans and Canadians) continued; the law exempted Western Hemisphere migrants.
Identify one social activity or fad from the 1920s leisure scene
crossword puzzles, mahjong, flagpole sitting, dance marathons, or attending movies
Explain the significance of Attorney General Mitchell Palmer’s actions during the Red Scare and one criticism leveled against them.
Palmer led raids against suspected radicals (Palmer Raids); criticism: civil liberties violations, arrests without counsel, and lack of evidence.
How did Prohibition affect organized crime
Prohibition increased illegal alcohol trade, speakeasies, bootlegging, and organized crime; Al Capone
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti? How did their situation exemplify the decade?
Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian immigrant anarchists tried for robbery/murder amid weak circumstantial evidence; case sparked protests and showed anti‑immigrant bias.
Explain how the rise of radio changed Americans’ experience of current events and entertainment during the 1920s.
Radio created a shared national experience by allowing large audiences to hear events (presidential speeches, World Series) at the same time
What are two political or social consequences of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.
Klan expansion enforced nativist, racist policies, influenced local politics, intimidated Catholics/Jews/immigrants, and later lost power due to internal criminality.
How did leisure spending reflect economic conditions in the late 1920s? Give an example of what people spent their money on
People had more disposible income. Spent it on Consumer goods like toasters, washing machines, went to the movies, concerts, and more
Explain how nativism and the Red Scare combined to shape federal immigration policy and public attitudes in the 1920s.
Nativism + Red Scare led to restrictive laws and public suspicion of immigrants as radicals; quotas and deportations; the Palmer Raids exemplify the climate.
In what ways did the arts (literature, painting, music, or film) reflect tensions between traditional and modern values in the 1920s.
Novels like The Great Gatsby critiqued materialism; painters recorded social realities and diversity; jazz music blended traditions and challenged European conventions; movies provided escapism but also reflected social tensions.
How did the Scopes Trial and the Prohibition experience illustrate broader conflicts between modern and traditional values in 1920s America
Scopes Trial shows clash over teaching evolution vs. Biblical literalism; Prohibition fostered disrespect for law and rise in organized crime — both show tensions between modern urban values and traditional rural values.
What caused the decline in Union Membership during the 1920s? Give 2 examples
Immigrants were willing to work for low pay. Immigrants spoke multiple languages, making them difficult to organize. Companies offered vacations and other incentives to not unionize. Exclusion of Black workers, Companies made it seem like all unionists were communists
How did Americans during the 1920s justify Nativist ways of thought?
Using pseudo-science like phrenology to say certain ethnicities were physically inferior, social Darwinism, white supremacy, and Protestant supremacy