1. Compare and contrast the economic development of North America, specifically the United States, to that of Western Europe, specifically Great Britain and France, in the post World War One era, from about 1920 through mid-1929. Be sure to offer reasons, explanations for the similarities and or differences you note.
2. The collapse of the stock market in the fall of 1929 set off the Great Depression which would dominate Western economies through the 1930's. The crash did not cause the depression, it merely pointed up a variety of weaknesses, now unleashed, which caused the depression. State clearly which of these many causes was the main cause, and show how it affected the others.
3. The Great Depression of the 1930's brought about economic calamity such that the modern world had never seen before. Of the many hardships brought about by this terrible economic collapse, state clearly that which you feel to be the worst; the one which most effected the most effected, if you will. Please keep the discussion within the framework of economy and or society of the Western industrial nations. [Leave Germany, Italy, etc., out of this]
4. Account for the rise of any ONE of the following `isms' in its respective nation during the time frame mentioned.
[#4 is not a `how' question. Do not get caught up in the events which can easily be found in any reference book. This is a `why' question. Why did these ideas, ideals, actions, events, and/or leaders of these respective movements reach such wide appeal in their respective nation in the era mentioned?]
5. Read The Great Gastby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald and comment on the theme of hedonism in the 1920's.
6. Sinclair Lewis, 1885-1951, wrote three major works in the 1920's: Main Street, Babbitt, and Arrowsmith. Read any one of them and discuss its significance in the 1920's.
7. What was the major result of World War One? Deal with this in the context of 1918-1929.
Pre-submission Date: last weekend in November.
Due no later than first Friday in December.
A WebQuest guide to the Twenties is just a click away!
Here are the standard choices for January:
1. Account for the rise of any ONE of the following `isms' in its respective nation during the time frame mentioned.
[This is not a `how' question. Do not get caught up in the events which can easily be found in any reference book. This is a `why' question. Why did these ideas, ideals, actions, events, and/or leaders of these respective movements reach such wide appeal in their respective nations in the era mentioned?]
2. In what ways did World War One set the stage for World War Two?
3. The League of Nations was created by the Treaty of Versailles 1919 as an organization to keep the world from future war. How and why did the League fail in its mandate in the 1930's?
4. The Great Depression resulted many hardships which forced governments to at least attempt various means to solve them. While no nation completely solved the depression, which of the various solutions do you think was the most useful and far reaching. In other words, what was the greatest good that came out of this era of errors.
5. Read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and comment on the effects of the Depression on the common man.
6. Read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and comment on the state of the laborer in the 1930's.
7. What were the main issues at work in Spain which led to civil war, 1936-39?
OR
The topic is Change or Constant. What do you feel is the greatest change which has taken place during this century? It could be an invention, a far reaching event, and significant person, and idea, etc. Or, what has been this century's greatest constant? What influence, type of event, way of thinking, has remained the same, for good or for bad, throughout this century.
In either case the Pre-submission: the Monday in January after the holiday weeks.
Date Due: no later than the January Friday before exam week. Papers will NOT be accept after this deadline!