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Venture II

A Venture into 1920s Era Politics

If the 1920s was an era of "normalcy" that does not mean there were not important political changes afoot. Find what the New York Times was writing about concerning one of the following three events. The New York Times is available on microfilm in the library. It is also available via an amazingly useful Proquest Hisotrical New York Times database accessible through the library's website. As with the first venture, one reason for this venture is to get you used to accessing this terrific resource, because it will be of interest to most all of you in your research projects later.

1. Choose one of the following key moments in the politics of the 1920s:

a. The ratification of the Women's Suffrage Amendment -- 4 June 1919 for Congressional (Senate) passage; 18 August 1920 for State ratification (Tennessee the 36th to ratify); 26 August 1920 formally added to Constitution by proclamation; 2 November 1920 for first election with women having the vote nationwide. Don't feel you have to go to all of these dates, but find what is most interesting to you in this important shift in American politics.

b. President Warren G. Harding dies in office. Historians consider him to be one of the worst presidents in all of American history, but at the time he was beloved. Died 2 August 1923 -- how did the press cover the sudden loss of the Presdient?

c. The 1928 election was another resounding win for the Republicans, but urban, Catholic New Yorker Al Smith attracted some key constituencies to the Democratic Party in ways that foreshadowed the New Deal coalition that would dominate the American scene from 1932 into the 1970s. In that way, this election (on 6 November 1928) is seen as a particularly important one. How was it seen on the day after the election?

2. Surf/scan/peruse a series of articles (and try out the view option -- upper right of screen -- that allows you to see the whole page) on the topic you choose and think about what themes you see in the coverage of the New York Times. Remember that you want to see the day after the event took place in order to get the appropriate coverage!!

2. Write a brief, informal response (no more than a 1 or 1-1/2 pages, double spaced) characterizing the ways a record from the times treats the political theme you choose, or you can focus on a particular element that you feel was telling.

Turn in that brief response when syllabus says it is due.

This website is occasionally maintained by Michael Trotti. (Last update: 21 September 2009).