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Handout
History Link

Panic of 1893: Seattle's First Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed article on how the 1893 Depression affected Seattle focuses mainly on the Northwest, but does bring in information about the depression in general.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Riding the Rails: Timeline of the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
This timeline of the Depression begins in October of 1929 and highlights significant statistics or events, sometimes month by month, through November of 1940 when Roosevelt is re-elected for his third term. From bank collapses to dust...
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Handout
Library of Economics and Liberty

Concise Encyclopedia of Economics: Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
For upper level classes and abilities only. A very scholarly explanation of the causes of the Great Depression and steps Franklin Roosevelt to end it. An excellent source due to its thorough analysis and detail.
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Website
Federal Reserve Bank

Frb: Regulation, Market Structure, Bank Failures of the Great Depression [Pdf]

For Students 11th - 12th
A scholarly paper written for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review looks at the causes of bank failures in the Great Depression, and how these failure rates were reflected across the country. Very detailed. [pdf]
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Website
Other

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Establishment of the Fdic

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the background of the banking failures and crises in the 1920s and early 1930s which led to the passage of the Emergency Bank Act, and the eventual establishment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to protect the...
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Lesson Plan
Digital History

Digital History: The First Hundred Days

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: A Bank Holiday

For Students 5th - 8th
Actions taken by Franklin D. Roosevelt upon becoming president in 1933. Read about how he took immediate steps to restore confidence in the banking segment of the American economy.
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Website
Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Calming the Panics of the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this winning essay on the actions of the Federal Reserve in the 1920s that contributed to the crash of the stock market in 1929, ushering the Great Depression.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The Panic of 1857 Began

For Students 3rd - 8th
America's Story provides a brief, two page article on the Panic of 1857. Two pictures are also given along with a timeline of events both before and after the Panic of 1857.
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Website
Other

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Historical Statistics on Banking

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed reports of US banking statistics, published annually beginning in 1934 when the federal government began keeping consistent statistical records for the U.S. economy. Also has financial data for all FDIC-insured institutions....
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Great Depression

For Students 5th - 8th
Read a brief overview of the causes of the Great Depression. See that there were several reasons which fed on each other to plunge the country into economic chaos.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Sinking Deeper and Deeper

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
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Activity
Wessels Living History Farm

Living History Farm: Bank Failures

For Students 9th - 10th
The bank runs and bank failures of the 1930s are described here, as well as personal interviews with people who experienced the Great Depression.
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Article
Practical Money Skills

Practical Money Skills: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Fdic)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the FDIC which insures deposit accounts at more than half of all federally and state-chartered banks and thrifts against failure.
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Activity
Then Again

Then Again: Web Chron: The Great Depression Begins 1929

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the Great Depression and its causes.