US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Fdr's First Inaugural Address
Features background on FDR and his platform for dealing with the Great Depression. Included are primary source documents of his first inaugural address and photos related to his New Deal programs.
Other
The Great Depression
Excellent resource for finding PowerPoint presentations on the Great Depression, New Deal, and FDR to use in your classroom. Also, provides games for students and teacher lesson plans.
US Department of Labor
U.s. Department of Labor: Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
Read about the struggle Franklin D. Roosevelt had in trying to get the Fair Labor Standards Act passed. With public support, he continued to push the ideas presented in the law until it finally was enacted into law.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 7: Facing Challenges at Home and Abroad
This extensive learning module examines the role of economic fluctuations in creating new demands on the government to design reforms and how the United States became a dominant military, political, cultural, and economic force in the...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: From Political Liberty to Social Freedom
In the early stages of the new nation's government the members of Congress sought to protect the citizens from political tyranny. Social freedoms emerged in the twentieth century when FDR begged for economic protection of U.S. citizens.
Social Security Administration
Social Security Onilne: Fdr's Statements on Social Security
The Social Security Administration offers texts of thirteen addresses made by Franklin D. Roosevelt on the issue of Social Security. A great resource for primary source material on this topic.
US Department of State
Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Cordell Hull (1871 1955)
Biography of Cordell Hull who was the longest serving Secretary of State in history, serving under Franklin D. Roosevelt and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Franklin Roosevelt: Executive Order 7086
Read the text of President Roosevelt's executive order that established the National Youth Adminstration as part of the Works Progress Administration. Its purpose was to help young people find jobs.
Digital History
Digital History: The New Dealers
Franklin D. Roosevelt brought in many different thinkers to help find ideas to fix the Great Depression. Read about their ideas and the ways they instituted their ways of thinking.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Henry A. Wallace
Biographical sketch of Henry A. Wallace who held a variety of positions in the Roosevelt administration, including Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce and Vice-President.
US Department of Agriculture
Executive Order 7027: Establishment of the Resettlement Administration
Original text of the Establishment of the Resettlement Administration by Executive Order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Authority for this order was granted under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
Other
Au: Frances Perkins on the Social Security Act (1935)
Here is a speech given by Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor in the administration of Franklin Roosevelt, praising the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. See how this groundbreaking legislation would help the elderly, disabled,...
Other
U.s. Securities and Exchange Commission: Securities Act of 1933 [Pdf]
President Roosevelt and his administration accomplished a lot during his first one hundred days in office. One piece of legislation was the Securities Act of 1933. Read the text of the entire act on this site. [pdf]
Library of Economics and Liberty
Concise Encyclopedia of Economics: Great Depression
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.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Franklin D Roosevelt
Facts, biography, and accomplishments of the life of Franklin D Roosevelt and summaries of important events during his presidency.
A&E Television
History.com: This Is How Fdr Tried to Pack the Supreme Court
When his New Deal legislation kept getting struck down, FDR proposed a law targeting justices over the age of 70.
Other
1936: Roosevelt Defeats Landon
Overview of the 1936 election in which Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Alfred Landon for the presidency.
Digital History
Digital History: Franklin D. Roosevelt: The Election of 1932
A brief overview of Franklin D. Roosevelt's private and political life prior to being nominated as the presidential candidate of the Democratic party in the election of 1932.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Rural Electrification, Crawford County Historical Marker
Read about the attempt to bring electricity to rural Pennsylvania during the Great Depression with the help of the New Deal program, the Rural Electrification Administration.
Other
The Public Housing Debate: United States Housing Act of 1937
A description of the Housing Act of 1937 and the reasons why Franklin Roosevelt thought it was an important part of his New Deal. (archived)
Digital History
Digital History: More Like the Tva? [Pdf]
Read the history of the Tennessee River Valley and the tension between private enterprise and government in the development of electricity and, surprisingly, fertilizer. Find out how the Tennessee Valley Authority was developed during...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Great Depression
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an overview of the causes and impact of the Great Depression and the effects of the New Deal. Included are many photographs from the time.
Other
Fdr Project: Fdr Cartoon Archives
An extensive collection of political cartoons about the Roosevelt administration. Included are cartoons relating to the first 100 days, the Supreme Court, and Roosevelt's war years.
Digital History
Digital History: The Farmer and the Depression [Pdf]
One of the first laws passed in Franklin Roosevelt's first hundred days was the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Read about how it helped farmers in crisis. and how it was the forerunner of the federal farm program in existence today. [pdf]