Introduction

TO ROAR! According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, "to roar" means: to utter or emit a full, prolonged sound; to sing or shout with full force; to laugh loudly; to be boisterous or disorderly; to proceed or rush with great noise or commotion.

The 1920s in the United States have often been called the "Roaring Twenties." Why? What made them roar? Who made them roar? Was this roaring a good thing?

Historians, movies, and books about the decade tell us it was a time of high energy, passion for life, and an embracing of the new. It was a time when music, art, literature, inventions, ideas and creations fluorished.

So, who was actually roaring, and what were they trying to say?

In this LibraryQuest, you will familiarize yourself with some of the major personalities of the decade and choose one who really interests you. After completing your research, you will write a one-page paper about how this person "roared" during the 1920s. You will also portray this historical figure at a 1920s Dinner Party and Salon.

Group of women / photo by Harry M. Rhoads. Library of Congress Call Number: Rh-1936