How far was the USA a divided society in the 1920s? to be able to explain the experiences of different groups to the boom

Source Skills 1.What does this source tell you about changes to entertainment in 1920s 2.Give two examples of what it doesn’t tell you about entertainment

The ‘Roaring’ twenties impacted on the lives of all Americans for some had it good, others were less fortunate. There were many different groups each having its own unique experience of the twenties: Rural Farmers Rich Americans Working class Americans Those who worked in old industries (coal mining, steel working etc.) Immigrants Black Americans Women Which of these groups do you think would have had positive or negative experiences?

Each group will have a character/social group The aim of the task is to get you thinking about how these groups would have felt about living in America at this time For each of the developments you are about to see, as a group you must discuss and decide on how you think they would have felt Each person in your group will take it in turns to explain to the class how your group feels

Development 1 Henry Ford has announced that he has developed a new manufacturing technique to mass produce cars. He has reduced the cost of his car by 2/3 and is selling more than ever. His factory in the city of Detroit is in need of more workers, he’s offering a whopping $5 a day pay. That’s $1300 a year!

Development 2 A law has been passed banning the sale and consumption of alcohol in all states. They’re calling it Prohibition… If you go to the right places you can get moonshine (homemade booze) but you’ll have to pay top dollar for it and risk a run in with the law!

Development 3 New theatres and dance halls are opening up in the town. Providing you dress smartly and have money to spend you too can join in the fun!

Development 4 The government has announced a new law restricting the numbers of immigrants arriving in the country. If they are white and from Western Europe then more of them will be let in. If they are from Eastern Europe then less will be let in – this is for the best as they probably harbour dangerous ideas like communism.

Development 5 Good news! Food is cheaper than ever because farming is so good, we’re producing far more food than the country needs. In fact prices have dropper over 50%. Unfortunately, because of tariffs there is no one else to sell the extra food to. Farm bankruptcies is up 500%!

Development 6 In the Southern states the Jim Crow Laws have made separate (segregated) facilities for White and Black Americans. Black Americans do not have the vote, have less opportunities and get paid the lowest wages the Ku Klux Klan has over 5 million members! They are taking action into their own hands they are beating and lynching Black Americans, Jews and other un-Americans.

Development 7 Want a car, a radio, or a fridge? Can’t afford to pay for it right now? Why not borrow the money from the bank…

Development 8 The Flappers are out of control! They no longer have any respect or morals. They smoke in public, drive cars and even go out dancing without a man to escort them! What has society come to? Further still, they have silly notions about gaining the vote and being allowed to work for a living. Disgraceful!

Development 9 Two Italian anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomo Vanzetti, have been charged with the murder of two guards in an armed robbery. 61 witnesses have identified them as the killers, but none of them can agree on the details of the crime. 107 defence witnesses have swore to seeing the men somewhere else at the time of the crime. Unfortunately, because the defence witnesses are Italian immigrants the jury has ignored them and found the men guilty of murder. They were executed in 1927.

Development 10 Poor, can’t pay the bills, just lost your job? Well tough! Get off your backsides and look for a job. The government isn’t going to give you any money or sympathy. This is the land of opportunity after all! The President believes that if you don’t have a job it is because you are too lazy to find one.

Write a paragraph explaining what your character really thinks about the ‘Roaring Twenties’

Rich Vs Poor RichPoor 5% of the population owned 1/3 of the countries wealth There were few taxes Cheap labour from immigrants and children Black Americans 10% of country lived in squalor many worked on cotton plantations or share cropping Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were not allowed good jobs Workers in old industries such as shipbuilding, textiles and coal mining; had bad working conditions and low wages 71% of American families earned less than $2500 a year (needed for decent living) Children exploited in textile mills and farms – 2 million year olds working 11 hours a day for very poor pay Farmers struggled by overproduction and low prices- tariffs made it difficult for them to sell grain to other countries

Source F President Hoover, speaking in 1928 During his election campaign, Republicans promised 'a chicken in every pot and a car in every backyard'. We in America today are nearer to the financial triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of our land. The poor man is vanishing from us. Under the Republican system, our industrial output has increased as never before, and our wages have grown steadily in buying power. How useful is Source F to an historian studying the standard of living in the USA during the 1920s? Use Source F and your knowledge to explain your answer. (10 marks)

1.Look first at the message/content of the source – what does it show you about the topic? How does this fit with your own knowledge? Is it limited in what it tells us about? Does this make it less useful? 2. Then look at the provenance of the source – who is it by? Why did they make it? When was it made? Is it reliable? 3. Remember to keep referring to the usefulness of the source to an historian – keep answering the question! 4. You should give an overall opinion on how useful it is and whether it alone covers all aspects of the topic in the question How to answer a 10 mark source question:

L1 Simple comments about what the source shows Or Generalised learned response about type of source e.g. Its a cartoon all cartoons exaggerate 1-2 marks L2 Simple comment about usefulness/limitations of the source content that uses some own knowledge Or simple comment about usefulness/limitations based on the provenance of the source and its reliability/bias 3-5 marks L3 Developed explanation about the usefulness/limitations of the source using the content of the source and your own knowledge Or Developed explanation about the usefulness/limitations of the source using the provenance in relation to the content of the source or own knowledge 6-8 marks L4 Does both strands one at L3 and one at L2 – 9 marks Does both strands at L3 – 10 marks 9-10 marks

Explain how American society was divided in the 1920s. (6 marks)