Understanding Time Period and the Author

Understanding the background about both the time period
and the author can help to enhance the understanding of the reader.

F Scott Fitzgerald Childhood

He was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota. He moved back and forth form Upstate New York and St. Paul, landing in St. Paul at the age of 12. At the age of 13, his first writing was published. At 15, he moved to New Jeresy to attend a school and he met Father Sigourney, and he is who encouraged Fitzgerald to pursue writing.

F Scott Fitzgerald Life

He dropped out of Princeton University to attend the US Army. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925. He struggled with alcholism and his wife had a mental illness.

F Scott Fitzgerald Beliefs

Fitzgerald was a person who was in support of change, innovation, and human advancement. He was a big believer in social improvement as well. He was married to Zelda, who refused to marry him, until a week after his first book was published.

Time Period

The Great Gatsby takes place during the 1920's also known as the "Roaring Twenties". During this time there was a drastic change in both social and political norms. As a nation, the wealth of the country about doubled during this time, without the knowledge that at the end of this decade, the stock market would crash.

Prohibition

The prohibition was created in hopes to reduce the crime rate in America, boost personal hygiene, and solve social problems.

Women

Women earned the right to vote in 1920. Women who were working increased by 25 percent. The clothing also changed to be more convient for the women.

Stock Market

The stock markert was raising rapidly until August of 1929. Then, on October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed and would known as, Black Tuesday.

Alcohol Dependence

America as a whole was favoring the taste of alcohol, and wanting to be intoxicated.

New Money

Wealth that is aquired within their lifetime, this is considered to be a lower class than old money. This includes people like: John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and John Jacob Astor.

Old Money

Inherited money and this kind of wealth is associated with status. This includes people like: John P. Morgan, Thomas A. Mellon, and Andrew Carnegie.

Works Cited

Biography.com, Editors. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 June 2016.

"The Changing Role of Women in the 1920's." BBC. BBC, 13 June 2016. Web. 2014.

Dai, Bingham. Opium Addiction in Chicago. 1937; 1970.
Duis, Perry. The Saloon: Public Drinking in Chicago and Boston, 1880–1920. 1983.
Spillane, Joseph. “The Making of an Underground Market: Drug Selling in Chicago, 1900–1940.” Journal of Social History 32.1 (1998): 27–39.

Grote, Jim. "Login in Order to Post a Comment." Old Money Vs. New Money. Financial Advisor, 1 May 2003. Web. 13 June 2016.

History.com, Staff. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 13 June 2016.

History.com, Staff. "Stock Market Crash of 1929." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 13 June 2016.

Thornton, Mark. "Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure." Cato Institute. Cate Institute, 17 July 1991. Web. 13 June 2016.

Willett, Erika. "F. Scott Fitzgerald and the American Dream." PBS. PBS, Web. 13 June 2016.