This hands-on lesson combines social studies, language arts, and technology. Fourth grade students begin by researching and collecting information from a variety of sources. Students develop an appreciation of the difficulties endured by...

From the extensive and very approachable series, Freedom: A History of US, based on the books by Joy Hakim, read about the stock market crash in 1929 and its ramifications.

Read about the response of Herbert Hoover to the suffering of those who were hurting during the Great Depression. From the PBS series, Freedom: A History of US, based on the books by Joy Hakim.

A good look at how the Great Depression affected Pennsylvania. See how New Deal legislation brought relief to the unemployed in Pennsylvania after 1936.

Read about the creeping descent into depression in the United States upon the crash of the stock market. Find out how the economy collapsed, and how that affected employment and the lives of millions.

This article relates the history of African Americans in the union movement during the Great Depression. Read about the importance of black membership in the CIO, the ILA, and the steel industry.

Franklin Roosevelt had to deal with the Great Depression quickly when he became president in 1932. Read about the early New Deal legislation, how the money was spent, and who administered the programs. Find out about the Works Progress...

In a case of "be careful of what you wish for," President Jackson's veto of the rechartering of the Bank of the United States had many ramifications. Read about the banking issues in Jackson's second administration, his on-going war with...

Read about the growth of labor unions during the 1930s as the Great Depression continued, due to the passage of the Wagner Act. Find out about the strikes and the conflict between labor and management, as well as conflict within the...

President Herbert Hoover spent his life in public service, and was a very intelligent man, but he was not able to see the problems caused by the Great Depression. Read about his comments and presidential actions in dealing with this...

A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" designed to help learners understand the stock market crash of 1929. They will examine how people got rich in the 1920s (by buying stocks on margin)...

Find photographs, brief videos, and commentary about what loans from the Farm Security Administration meant to poor farmers during the Great Depression.

It is truly amazing to see how much legislation President Franklin Roosevelt was able to get through Congress in the first one hundred days of his administration. Read about the many programs that were implemented in an attempt to stem...

Students explore poetry using American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940 collection of American Memory, which covers personal stories collected by the Works Progress Administration. In particular,...

This lesson plan will result in imaginary Works Progress Administration (WPA) interviews similar to those found in American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940 of the Library of Congress that...

Overview of the early 20th Century, post-depression era period of economic growth and stability brought about by Keynesian economics and the New Deal.

Vivid and succinct account of the efforts and struggles of WWI veterans who marched on Washtington D.C. to demand their veterans' benefits. Article describes their forced dispersement by the army, which strained the confidence of the...

No discussion about the Great Depression can be complete without a look at the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal programs. Read about the changes and effects on the economy brought about by the programs, but see what...

The Great Depression was not the fault of Herbert Hoover, but see how he was unable or unwilling to take the steps to address it. Find out how the election of 1932 was the result of his misunderstanding of the economics of the time.

An interesting look at the attempt by men in the Northwest to travel to Washington, D.C. to join Jacob Coxey's army that was protesting the treatment of the unemployed during the Depression of 1893.

After reading a brief history of Social Security and its inception in the United States during the Great Depression, find out about the various programs that provide a social safety net to its citizens. See how these programs are funded,...

Here's an exercise in which students use data provided about possible New Deal programs and lets them decide which are economically feasible and helpful as a way to address the Great Depression. Use the provided chart to keep track of...

A great explanaton of how the bull market was started in the stock market in March of 1928, and how, through speculaton and buying on margin, pushed up stock prices. See how the bubble burst over a series of days in October, 1929,...

This article lays out criticism of President Roosevelt and his handling of the Great Depression and the New Deal. Read about three men who developed a great following by insisting that the New Deal did not go far enough and not enough...