American society in the 1920s
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the changes in American society and culture during the 1920s.
Key learning points
- The 1920s have been referred to as the 'Roaring Twenties'.
- Entertainments like mass sports, cinema and jazz became more popular duirng the 1920s.
- Prohibition was introduced in 1920.
- Prohibition law was regularly broken by ordinary Americans and corrupt officials.
- There was a rise in organised crime during the Prohibition era.
Keywords
Talkies - talkies were films which included sound
Prohibition - Prohibition was the name given to the ban on alcohol in the USA from 1920-1933
Enforcement - enforcement refers to processes such as policing which are used to make sure people obey the law
Speakeasy - a speakeasy was an illegal bar set up during the period of Prohibition in the USA
Smuggled - if something is smuggled, it is brought into a country illegally
Common misconception
Prohibition led to a fall in alcohol consumption in the USA.
A rise in the number of bars and alcohol-related offences after 1920 suggests that drinking became more common during the Prohibition era.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to evaluate the problems created by Prohibition by asking them what the main reason for its failure was. Push students to consider links between factors (i.e. would better enforcement have reduced the impact of organised crime?)
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. If groups of people are , they have been separated from other groups because of a characteristic such as their race.
Q2.What happened to the prices of agricultural goods in the USA after 1920?
Q3.Where did most recent immigrants in the USA come from in the 1920s?
Q4.What name was often given to established groups of immigrants in the USA in the 1920s?
Q5.Which example best demonstrates that Native Americans did not enjoy a boom in the 1920s?
Q6.Which example best demonstrates that American farmers suffered from tariffs?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Films produced with sound were known as '...'.
Q2.Match each of the individuals with their correct career.
gang leader
baseball player
film star
jazz singer
Q3.When did the USA introduce Prohibition?
Q4.Which of the following arguments did 'dries' make about Prohibition?
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: American society in the 1920s, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: American society in the 1920s, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the America 1920–1973, Opportunity and inequality unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.