National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: 20th Century: Religion in American History: The Scopes Trial
The National Humanities Center offers an overview of the events surrounding the Scopes trial. The authors encourage an understanding of the sources of the conflict and its long-range effects.
Curated OER
History Matters: "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?"
As a rebuttal to Christian Fundamentalism in the 1920s, Harry Emerson Fosdick preached an important sermon celebrating liberal Protestantism. Read this well-thought out sermon here.
George Mason University
Chnm: Between the Wars: The Scopes Trial
Read the fascinating transcript of the proceedings in court when Clarence Darrow called William Jennings Bryan to the stand to expose the weakness in his argument against evolution in the famous Scopes trial.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Clarence Darrow
Site provides information on Darrow himself, the Scopes "Monkey Trial," the Leopold and Loeb Trial, and other famous trials with which he was associated. Great photographs are included.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: Becoming Modern: America in the 1920s: The Age
A collection of primary source material from the modern age, explores the 1920s and how it relates to today. Section includes introductory notes, classroom discussion questions, and supplemental links to related resources.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Aardoc: African Americans and Billy Sunday in Atlanta (Nov. Dec. 1917)
Read this intoduction that describes and sets the stage for Billy Sunday's meetings with the influential African-American preachers and congregations in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1917. After you have an understanding of the situation,...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Jazz Age: Redefining the Nation 1919 1929: A New Generation
Looks at the new morality that emerged in the 1920s. It changed the role of women and the perception of African Americans, the latter facilitated by the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on the music and dance of the Jazz Age. Also...
Ohio State University
Osu: Temperance and Prohibition: American Prohibition in the 1920s
A collection of primary sources supporting and disputing the efficacy of Prohibition and the enforcement of the Volstead Act.
The Newberry Library
Women on the Move: Gender and Mobility in American Culture, 1890 to 1950
Newberry Library learning module uses primary source documents and literature to explore the influence of gender on social and physical mobility and the concept of freedom in American culture from 1890 - 1950.
Digital History
Digital History: The Roaring Twenties [Pdf]
Read this comprehensive look at the Roaring Twenties, or Jazz Age. Read about Prohibition and its ramifications, women's gains, entertainment, and literature. Also find out about the resurgence of racial unrest and violence. A very good...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Tennessee Evolution Statutes
Site provides the text of the act which banned the teaching of evolution in Tenessee schools in 1925.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: William Jennings Bryan (1860 1925)
Provides a short biography on William Jennings Bryan, focusing on his antievolution campaign and his part in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Billy Sunday
Wikipedia encyclopedia article on Billy Sunday, noted for his fire and brimstone evangelism.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Roaring Twenties" by Mike Kubic
A learning module that begins with "The Roaring Twenties" by Mike Kubic, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of San Francisco: Rum Bribery Higherups Hunted as Plotters
This site from the Museum of the City of San Francisco provides an article from a prohibition-period newspaper that reports the new attack by prosecutors on policemen who have been bribed by bootleggers.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Nick Carraway observes the wasteful lives of four wealthy acquaintances in the nouveau riche society of West Egg, Long Island. During his time there, Carraway befriends his affluent and enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Selected (10)...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Monkey Trial
A very good look at the Scopes Monkey Trial that pit prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan against defense attorney, Clarence Darrow. Read about the issues, the media circus at the trial, and eventual outcome. Find the basis of...
Other
Twenties Fashion: Ladies' Fashions of the 1920s
Women's fashions during the 1920s: less formal, legs shown, bobbed hair.
Other
Twenties Fashion: Men's Fashions of the 1920s
Discusses the appropriate clothing and styles for men during the 1920s. Describes the various articles of clothing considered suitable for men to wear during this time.
Digital History
Digital History: The 1920s an Overview
A brief overview of what is in store for America in the 1920s, the Jazz Age. Read about the rise of consumerism, the clash of values, and the rise of fearing the "other."
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Volstead Act
A brief description of the Volstead Act, which allowed the federal government to enforce the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or distribution of intoxicating liquors, better know as Prohibition.