Unit 13: The 1920’s and 1930’s
Essential Question: What should be the government's responsibility and role in the economy?
Day 1: The Not-So-Roarin’ 20s
Pages: 746-756
Due: Tuesday/Wednesday, February 11/12
Short answer responses: 1) Explain the “red scare” and its causes. 2) What were the goals of the Palmer Raids? 3)
How do the “new “ KKK, U.S. immigration policy, and the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti each reflect nativist feeling in
society? 4) What factors worked against the effectiveness of prohibition? Compare the problems of prohibition
enforcement to those of drug enforcement today.
Day 2: The Roarin’ 20s
Pages: 756-768
Due: Thursday, February 13
Short answer responses: 5) Explain the role of each of the following in the economic expansion of the 1920s: a) new
energy sources; b) assembly line production; c) advertising; d) credit. 6) How did both music and literature of the
1920s express social criticism & dissatisfaction? (Be sure to address the Harlem Renaissance in the answer) 7) What
ideas did Marcus Garvey suggest? How realistic do you think these were? 8) What economic signals in the 1920s
indicated both prosperity and impending danger? 9) Explain the “trickle down” policy of Andrew Mellon.
DQ #1: Analyze the groups in American society who rejected “modernity” (the changes from a rural to urban society).
Day 3: Politics of the 1920s
Pages: 771-780
Due: Tuesday/Wednesday February 18/19
Short answer responses: 10) What led to growing labor unrest in the post-war years? How successful was
organized labor in achieving its goals? What attitudes and actions did government take towards labor? 11) Explain
each policy and how it represents a pursuit of “advantages without responsibilities:”
a) separate peace agreements with the defeated Central Powers;
b) U.S. policies on behalf of oil companies;
c) Kellogg-Briand Pact.
12) What affect did the Fordney-McCumber Tariff of 1922 have on foreign trade? On repayment of war debts?
13) List the scandals of the Harding administration. 14) What problems did farmers face in the post-war years?
DQ #2: Does the 1920s deserve its reputation as “roaring”?
Day 4: The Crash
Pages: 780-793
Due: Thursday, February 20
Short answer responses: 15) Identify the candidates, issues and images in the 1928 election. On what issues did the
public concentrate? Why did Hoover win? 16) What actions did Hoover take to offset financial problems?
WQ#1: Analyze causes of the Great Depression. List the causes of the Great Depression. Identify who was to blame
for each cause and how it could be avoided in the future.
Day 5: FDR and the New Deal
Pages 795-812
Due: Friday, February 21
Short answer responses: 17) Describe FDR’s background, appeal and qualifications as a Presidential candidate in
1932. 18) Contrast Hoover and FDR on their views of the role of the Federal government in dealing with the
Depression.
WQ#2: RAFT
Role: newspaper reporter in the 1930s
Audience: American readers
Format: Editorial newspaper article
Topic: Explanation and critique (or support) of the “extreme” solutions offered to the Great Depression by either
Huey P. Long, Dr. Townsend or Father Coughlin.
WQ#3: FILL OUT THE NEW DEAL GRID
Day 7: New Deal—Genius or smokescreen?
Pages 812-821
Due: Monday, February 24
Short answer responses:
19) How did the AFL and CIO differ in philosophy and organization?
20) How did FDR plan to “pack” the Supreme Court? What were the short and long term results of his
battle with the courts?
21) How did the following groups benefit from the New Deal? a) organized labor; b) immigrants;
c) minorities; d) women.
DQ #3: Was the New Deal a success? In what areas did it help and where did it find its limitations?
***TEST DAY: TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25/26****
KEY IDEAS: Negatives and positives of the 1920s; International post-war issues and U.S. influence; Causes
and effects of Great Depression; Effectiveness of the New Deal