Core Skills Analysis
History
- Will identified the 18th Amendment as the legal foundation that launched Prohibition, linking constitutional change to societal behavior.
- Will recognized the cultural and economic forces (e.g., temperance movement, WWI grain shortages) that motivated the push for a nationwide ban on alcohol.
- Will explained the unintended consequences—rise of speakeasies, organized crime, and public dissent—that illustrated how policies can backfire.
- Will placed Prohibition within the broader timeline of the 1920s, noting its overlap with the Roaring Twenties and the subsequent repeal by the 21st Amendment.
Tips
To deepen Will’s grasp of the Prohibition era, have him explore primary source documents like newspaper ads for speakeasies or excerpts from the 18th Amendment. Next, guide him in creating a visual timeline that marks key events, from the temperance crusade to the 1933 repeal, and ask him to annotate each point with cause‑and‑effect notes. Finally, stage a classroom debate where Will argues either for or against Prohibition using evidence he gathered, helping him practice persuasive speaking and historical empathy.
Book Recommendations
- Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Kevin Starr: A concise narrative that explains why the nation voted for the 18th Amendment and how its repeal reshaped American politics.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: A classic novel set in the Jazz Age that provides vivid cultural context for the era of Prohibition.
- Bootleggers and Bullies: The Rise of the American Crime Syndicate by Mike Wallace: A teen‑friendly look at how organized crime flourished during Prohibition, linking law, economics, and society.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2 – Determine central ideas of a text and summarize supporting details (video content).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.9 – Analyze primary and secondary sources related to the era.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7 – Integrate visual information (timelines, cartoons) with written analysis.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2 – Write informative/explanatory texts about historical events.
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Compare and contrast arguments from temperance advocates and speakeasy owners; include a column for modern parallels.
- Quiz: 10 multiple‑choice questions on the 18th Amendment, key dates, and major social impacts.
- Drawing task: Design a 1920s political cartoon that critiques Prohibition.
- Writing prompt: Compose a diary entry from the perspective of a teenager who sneaks into a speakeasy.