Exploros | The Shifting National Mood

The Shifting National Mood

Students first create a chart of what they know about the Progressive Era and predict what the mood was during the Roaring Twenties. Then they read articles about Social Darwinism and Nativism and create a chart about these ideologies. Next they examine the Scopes Trial and compare and contrast it to a current issue. Finally, students research and prepare a presentation about how the shifting mood affected four minorities: women, American Indians, African Americans, and immigrants.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

Overview

In this experience, students first create a chart of what they know about the Progressive Era and predict what the mood was during the Roaring Twenties. Then they read articles about Social Darwinism and Nativism and create a chart about these ideologies. Next they examine the Scopes Trial and compare and contrast it to a current issue. Finally, students research and prepare a presentation about how the shifting mood affected four underrepresented groups: women, American Indians, African Americans, and immigrants.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 2 to scene 4. Each group should have a minimum of four members, who will divide four topics for individual research and presentation within the groups.

Objectives

Describe the schools of thought that dominated the United States in the 1920s.
Analyze the developments for women, American Indians, African Americans, and immigrants during the Roaring Twenties.

Engage

World War I shook the United States out of isolation and onto the stage as a world power. Yet after the war, the mood shifted and many Americans wanted to return to policies of isolation and anti-immigration. Some minority groups did manage to gain rights during this period. In this lesson, you will learn about the shifting mood.

Objectives

Describe the schools of thought that dominated the United States in the 1920s.
Analyze the developments for women, American Indians, African Americans, and immigrants during the Roaring Twenties.

woman holding a protest sign to “Kaiser Wilson,” asking how he can fight for the right to self-government of poor Germans when American women do not have the right to self-government

Suffragette protests President Wilson’s opposition to the Nineteenth Amendment

Start by recalling what you know about the Progressive Era.

Post something you recall about the Progressive Era. If someone has already posted what you remember, try to think of something else to post.

Emphasize key facts about the Progressive Era:

It was a time of social reform in many areas, such as education, mental health, and workers’ rights.

Reformers worked at the local, state, and national levels.

Women were very active in the reform movements.

The name of this experience is “The Shifting National Mood.” Make a prediction what the new mood was during the Roaring Twenties.

Post your answer

Accept any reasonable predictions. You may have students revisit their predictions before they take the quiz.

Divide students into their small groups for the next three scenes. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.