Question 1
The 1920's were an era of great personal and professional success. There was a lot of money and time to spend it. What were some of the good and bad things associated with the 1920's. Why is it called the Roaring '20's or the Jazz Age? What new forms of technology became part of the home? what new appliances came in? What allowed this all to happen? Is there a down side to all of this? Were the '20's all good or bad? Why?
Question 2
Answer one of the two aspects of this segment:
1. What was life truly like in the 1930s in the US? How did Americans approach the issues of the Great Depression? Was everyone out of work? Who was or wasn't? What places prospered? What attitude did Americans have towards the world in the 1930s? This is important as it forms part of the issue for US attitudes towards World War II.
2. World War II was a time of incredible conflict both inside and outside of the US. But for the first two years Americans did NOT want to be involved in the war. What were some of the reasons why? when the US finally did get involved in the War, what was part of the "total war effort"? What were some of the issues of those who sided with Germany or Japan? Any examples of Americans fighting in other wars before or during this time?
Question 3
Again pick one of the two topics to write on at this point:
1. The 1950s are often seen as the time of the "American Dream". What defined that dream? What were some of the creature comforts of the era? Was life the same for everyone at this time? Be specific in some of the events of the era. What of something called the Communist Witch Hunts? Who started it and why was it important?
2. For the 1960's the era was one in which there was hope in the early 1960s and chaos by the end of the 1960s. Why? What were some of the major events that shaped this era? Why does this have an impact on American society today? The "baby Boomers" came of adult age from that time. How may this have shaped their political views? What of music, and movies from the era?
Question 4
Answer one of the two posted ideas:
1. The Age of political conservatism is from 1968 with the election of Nixon, through the end of 1992, when George H.W. Bush ended his term in office. Only one Democratic President was elected in all that time - Jimmy Carter. What were some of the reasons for this political shift? What are the major events from that era? the Cold War also figured into this history. What were some of the events?
2. By 1991, the world had changed. The UN successfully expelled Iraq from Kuwait and by the end of that year, the USSR was no more. This ended the Cold War, and many thought that the "New World Order" would be a US led one. Since then there have been issues. What events happened that may have affected attitudes? How has the history of that era influenced things now?