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Lesson Plan
Other

Bringing History Home: The Great Depression

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This 4th grade unit introduces basic concepts of the Great Depression of the 1930s, and to historical analysis processes. Following a trade book and video documentary overview of the 1920s and 1930s, students examine photos, letters,...
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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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Unit Plan
Virginia Tech

Digital History Reader: The End of Optimism? The Great Depression in Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Questions about democratic institutions arose in Europe as the watched the economic crisis in the United States. The conditions in Europe during the Depression era, several photos, animations, and reports, suggested assignments, and...
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Great Depression 1929 1932: President Hoover's Response

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines how Herbert Hubert responded to the crisis of the Great Depression and his personal belief system that caused him to respond that way. Also looks at how governments at other levels addressed the Great Depression, and why most...
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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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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Us History: 1920s, the Great Depression, & World War Ii

For Students 9th - 10th
AP U.S. History learning module on 20th Century eras and events including the 1920s, Great Depression, and World War II. Comprehensive multi-media lesson materials.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Great Depression in Global Perspective

For Students 9th - 10th
This article gives a great overview of the effects of the Great Depression all over the world. Find the four main responses of various countries to the depression, and see how some of these responses brought about World War II.
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Website
New Deal Network

New Deal Network: The Great Depression: 1930s and the Roosevelt Administration

For Students 9th - 10th
The New Deal Network is devoted to students and teachers researching the Great Depression and the New Deal. Features include an extensive database of photographs, political cartoons, texts and a New Deal Network Classroom that has lesson...
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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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Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

Calisphere: Great Depression: Building Bridges, Dams, Power Plants

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source material on California during the Great Depression and how unemployment affected the building of the infrastructure including bridges, dams and power plants.
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Handout
University of Oklahoma

Congressional Archives: Archives of the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
This site covers many aspects of the Great Depression and the New Deal programs meant to address the terrible economic issues.
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Graphic
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: America's Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal

For Students 9th - 10th
Details on how the Great Depression affected the nation and how Roosevelt's New Deal created many relief and recovery programs to try to bring economic stability to the nation.
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Handout
New Deal Network

New Deal Network: Great Depression and the Arts

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Part of a wonderful website devoted to researching and teaching the Great Depression and the New Deal. These pages are focused specifically on the arts during this time.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: World War I & the Great Depression the Great Depression

For Teachers 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Great Depression. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the impact of the Great Depression and how President Hoover tried to respond to the crisis.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief overview of the stock market crash and ensuing events of the Great Depression, 1929.
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Article
Other

Utah History to Go: The Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting look at the effects of the Great Depression on the citizens of Utah, a state which had the fourth highest rate of unemployment. Read about the state and federal programs which gave aid during this period of time.
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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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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1890 1945: Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick comprehension check of the Great Depression period in the United States.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: How the Great Depression Became the Golden Age for Monopoly

For Students 9th - 10th
When times got tough during the Great Depression, people played board games -- especially the game that's all about making money. The success of Monopoly befuddled many. Why, in a time of great financial despair, would families and...
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Unit Plan
Texas Public Broadcasting

Texas Pbs: Texas Our Texas: The Great Depression and World War Ii 1930 1945

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the difficulties Texans faced during the Great Depression and World War II as people who depended on the land.
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: The Causes of the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the causes of the Great Depression.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration and Migration:today/during the Great Depression

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students address these questions through activities using oral history methods and investigating life in the 1930s. They compare the immigration/migration experiences of their families to those of people living through the Great...
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Fdr and the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who held this office from 1933 to 1945, and his New Deal policies and initiatives that saw the United States through the Great Depression.