The New Deal Through Primary Sources: a Unit Plan

The following resources and lesson plan are designed to teach a unit that will cover all state US History context standards for the New Deal ad effects of the Great Depression. It does not address the causes of the Great Depression, which should be covered previously. Also the sources in the Tennessee State Library & Archives do not currently support standards covering Social Security, the SEC, Fair Labour Standards Act, the FDIC, or the Cumberland Homesteads.
For each source or group of sources there is/are focus question(s) to direct students towards the objectives. Aternatively, teachers ca also use the analysis tools at http://sos.tn.gov/tsla/educationoutreach-classroom-resources or come up with your own focus questions.
Note on standards covered: This unit plan is based on the 11th grade US History standards, and most of the questions and concepts are developed for high school students Teachers will want to review and adapt sources and questions for students at other abilities or levels.

Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 
  • How did the Great Depression/New Deal impact Tennesseans?        
  • How did the nation pursue recovery from the Great Depression?        

Unit Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:
Primary Sources from Tennessee State Library and Archives, National Archives, and Library of Congress. They are all linked within the activity.