The Great Gatsby

Overview of Events in History at the Time of the Novel

 

http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/exhibition/exhibition_6_2.html

            New York City Connected—background                    

                        Transatlantic Travel

                        Immigrant City 

                        Cultural Connections

Mention is made of African Americans from the South immigrating to NYC as well as Harlem music scene

 

http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade20.html

    Overview of the “Roaring Twenties” with links to many aspects of time period.  Of particular interest is section on Fads and Fashions.

 

 

http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/1920.htm

            List of events by year, includes publication of all Fitzgerald's books

Prohibition

 

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/progress/prohib/prohib.html

            Excellent balance of information and length!  Links to oral histories of the times.

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/volstead-act/

            Page length article describing history and effect of Volstead Act.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct28.html

            This day in history…links to addt’l info

1919 World Series

 

http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/blacksox.htm

            Turn down the volume before you open this site.  Really interesting explanation.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Black_Sox_Scandal

            Way the game was “fixed”—may be more than you want to know

National League for Women’s Service

 

http://www.lasalle.edu/commun/history/articles/league.htm

            History and purpose of organization.  Not appealing to look at, but best summary of information.

Fashion in the 1920s

 

http://www.fashion-era.com/1920s/index.htm

Lots of details, lots of fun!

 

http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/

            Excellent site: relates fashion to changing role of women.

 

http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/timelinepages/1920s1.htm

            Great site for pictures.

Tammany Hall

 

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=211

            Short overview beginning with Boss Tweed, mentions “muckrackers.”

 

http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/tammany-hall.htm

            Detailed history of “machine” from 1850s to 1930s.

 

http://www.nevadaobserver.com/TNO%20Reference%20Page%20File/Photo%20Page%202.htm 

Political cartoons with lengthy discussions.

Stock Market/Wall Street

 

http://www.pbs.org/fmc/timeline/estockmktcrash.htm

            MPT one page explanation of the crash of 1929.

http://iws.ccccd.edu/kwilkison/Online1302home/20th%20Century/DepressionNewDeal.html

The 1920's was a "boom" for the investor class. The declining ability of the working class to buy houses and automobiles was masked by the interest in the New York Stock Exchange by the wealthy. Speculating in stocks led to inflation and the illusion of a good economy where stocks would always go up. Banks loaned money to stock investors, who defaulted on their loans when the stock market crashed, causing the banks to fail. President Hoover tried to stabilize the business community, but President Roosevelt tried to revitalize the ability of the masses to help the economy.

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpmech5.htm

This article summarizes the conditions before, during, and after the stock market crash of 1929. "In the late 1920s, it seemed as if everybody was in the stock market." The author summarizes the prevailing philosophy of some financiers on Wall Street at the time. "Some Wall Street financiers tried to inspire confidence by buying as many shares as they could." Included with this article is a small black and white photograph of a crowd of people on Wall Street as news spread of the crash. An option for a printer friendly version is provided.

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