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The Great Gatsby's Setting and Culture
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Prohibition goes into effect at midnight
This amendment will greatly affect the entire plot of the novel. Gatsby earns his money by being a bootlegger. The parties he throws are populated by people searching for alcohol adn a good time. -
F. Scott Fitzgerald publishes This Side of Paradise
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Harding Wins Presidency
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Immigration Emergency Quota
The Emergency Quota Act restricts immigration by setting limits based on the number of foreign-born people already in the country in 1910. Immigration must not exceed three percent of each nationality already in the United States in that year. -
Wage cuts and massive unemployment
Wage cuts and massive unemployment cause unrest and an increase in violence. The newly formed Hoover Commission suggests price cuts and shorter hours rather than an increase in wages; the average working day is 12-14 hours. Wage cuts bring many to find escape in alcohol supplied by men like Gatsby -
Nick Carraway moves to West Egg
Nick moves into a small bungalo on the West Egg of Long Island, New York. He doesn't know it yet but he has moved into the infamous and mysterious Jay Gatsby's large and ostentatious mansion. Nick is the narrator of the novel and we will see the events of the seasons of 1922 through Nick's "moral" point of view. -
Nick meets Daisy, his cousin, Tom, her husband, and Jorban Baker
Daisy and Tom were married in 1919. They have moved many places in the short span of their marriage. They have a young daughter that is only mentioned one time. The first sign of Tom's character and insecurities is his wedding gift of a several million dollar diamond neckalce to Daisy. Jordan Baker is a jaunty amature golfer who later has an affair with Nick. -
Tom drives Nick to meet his mistress Myrtle Wilson and throw a party at his secret New York apartment
Tom is having a blatently obivous affair with Myrtle Wilson, a mechanic from the valley of ash's wife. He has a secret apartment in New York city where he takes Nick. Myrtle is brazen and is the foil to Daisy's aristocratic character. Myrtle gets a dog as a present and the dog's rhinestone leash is later proof of her infidelity. -
Gatsby throws a lavish party and invites Nick
Gatsby throws another of his infamous house parties. People are never invited, they just go. Nick was invited by Gatsby in the early stages of their relationship. We later learn that the only reason Gatsby throws these parties is in hopes that Daisy will come. -
Gatsby dirves Nick to New York City
Gatsby confides in Nick about his past as James Gatz as a poor middle-class boy. His finances are revealed as criminal when Nick Meets Wolfshiem who has human molar cufflinks. He offers Nick a job but he refuses. In this trip Nick discovers who the real Gatsby is behind all of the slef-perpetuated mystery. -
Gatsby arranges a reunion with Daisy in Nick's house
After Jordan Baker and Gatsby himself have revealed Gatsby and Daisy's romantic past to Nick, Gatsby arranges a tea party at Nick's house to reunite with the love of his life, Daisy. It is a great secret at first but the party moves to Gatsby's house after. He shows her his gardens and signs of his great wealth. Because Daisy is superficial she is impressed and pledges her love to Gatsby once more. -
Tom and Gatsby Meet
Tom met Gatsby while he was horseback riding with the Slones. His muscular body showed his power and his feelings of superiority. The Buchannans go to Gatsby's next party. At the party Tom argues with Gatsby of being a bootlegger and gaining his money by illegal means. -
Wilson discovers Myrtle's Affair
The leash for her dog in the city is discovered by Wilson. He locks her above the gas station becasue he is so confused and distraught over his wife's infidelity. He doesn't know who she is involved with yet but this is the beginning of the rising action. -
Daisy, Tom, Nick, Gatsby, and Jordan drive to the City
Tom dirves Gatsby's yellow rolls royce while Gatsby drives Tom's blue coupe. As they are driving by Myrtle sees Tom driving the yellow car from her window at the gas station. The group gets a hotel room at the plaza and take baths while drinking scotch and mint julips. It is here where Tom and Gatsby confront about Daisy's love. Daisy ends up driving home with Gatsby in the yellow rolls. -
Daisy kills Myrtle with Gatsby's car on the way home
Daisy kills Myrtle in the car that Tom drove to the city. Tom tells Wilson whose car it really is and sets Gatsby up to be framed. Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy so that she will be innocent. -
19th Amendment
The Supreme Court declares the 19th Amendment (votes for women) to be constitutional. The US is gaining more freedom. Women are liberated and are less inhibited. -
Wilson shoots Gatsby and Commits suicide
Wilson believes that Gatsby killed Myrtle. He shoots Gatsby while he is swimming in his pool before it is drained for the winter waiting for Daisy to call him to tell him she is ready to leave Tom. She never calls. Tom and Daisy conspire against Gatsby. Wilson committs suicide outside of Gatsby's mansion. -
Nick and Gatsby's father are the only ones to attend his funeral
Gatsby's funeral has three attandants. One on accident. No one wants to be associated with the crimes he was accused of. Nick realizes that he was Gatsby's only friend and everyone else was using him for his wealth and status. The funeral is very sad and ends quickly. -
Harding Dies
The Scopes trial begins as John T. Scopes of Tennessee is arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. Clarence Darrow defends Scopes as William Jennings Bryan heads the prosecution. In an unusual move, Bryan takes the witness stand to defend his strict interpretation of the Bible. Scopes loses the trial and is fined $100, but the trial publicity has given the debate over evolution national attention. -
Osage Reign of Terror
The FBI begins investigating an unusually high rate of murders and mysterious deaths among the Osage in what Oklahoma newspapers call the "Osage Reign of Terror." Because of the great wealth of the Osages' oil-rich land, members of the tribe become the targets of unscrupulous dealings and violence. -
Immigration Acts
Congress passes a new and more restrictive immigration law; quotas are now set at only 2 percent of existing nationalities in the U.S. in 1920, and Japanese immigration is suspended. -
Evolution in School Court Case
The Scopes trial begins as John T. Scopes of Tennessee is arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. Clarence Darrow defends Scopes as William Jennings Bryan heads the prosecution. In an unusual move, Bryan takes the witness stand to defend his strict interpretation of the Bible. Scopes loses the trial and is fined $100, but the trial publicity has given the debate over evolution national attention.
