Your Inquisitive Cousin Claude (The 1920s)
SSUSH15 The student will analyze the origins and impact of U.S. involvement in World War I.
d. Describe passage of the Eighteenth Amendment, establishing Prohibition, and the Nineteenth Amendment, establishing
women’s suffrage.
SSUSH16 The student will identify key developments in the aftermath of WW I.
b. Identify Henry Ford, mass production, and the automobile.
d. Describe modern forms of cultural expression; include Louis Armstrong and the origins of jazz, Langston Hughes and the
Harlem Renaissance, Irving Berlin, and Tin Pan Alley.
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Directions: Your cousin Claude decided to up and leave his well-to-do, urban lifestyle in Chicago ten
years ago for the solitude life on the island of Guam. Unfortunately for Claude, Guam is way behind
technologically for 1927. They have no working radio stations and do not even circulate a newspaper!
He has no way of receiving recent news updates.
One day you receive a letter from Claude. He has heard through the grapevine about various changes
that are happening back in the US and is very interested in these developments. He wants you to write
him back and answer his questions. Below you will find a copy of Claude’s letter:
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Dearest Cousin,
November 28, 1927
It’s your old pal Claude! Just enjoying the warm island breeze here on the beaches of Guam. It’s
Thanksgiving-time and still 90 degrees outside! I don’t miss Chicago one bit! But I do feel out of the loop when it
comes to my old stompin’ ground. Occasionally I run into American sailors down at the pier and I over hear some
of their conversations. Apparently some big changes are happening in America! If you don’t mind, could you fill
me in on these events? I just have a few questions:
1. What is going on at the Ford Motor Company? What effect has this “mass production” had on the production of
cars? I sure would love to have a Model-T, but before I left Chicago they were so expensive!
2. I know this was a few years ago, but why did President Wilson suddenly decide to support women’s suffrage?
Did he have any part in getting the 19th amendment passed? I’m sure Granny was excited to finally vote!
3. What’s all this moving and shaking going down in Harlem? I heard about this “New Negro” movement. What’s
this all about? And who is this Langston Hughes fella?
4. I hear there’s a lot of racket coming out of the streets of New York. Apparently there is a high-demand for music
throughout the city! Oh how I wish I could be a part of the commotion. What would I need to do to be a part of
Tin Pan Alley? Could you get me Irving Berlin’s contact information?
Write me back as soon as possible! Tell everyone I said “hello”.
- Claude
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After reading the four secondary sources, compose a response letter to Claude. Remember to
answer/cover all of Claude’s inquiries. The letter should be long enough to accomplish all parts.