Procedures

• INTRODUCTION

  Have students either complete the Great Depression Lesson or research the causes and impact of the Great Depression prior to the election of Franklin Roosevelt.

  Then, as a class watch the following video and have the students answer the questions below:

  VIDEO CLIP: Franklin Roosevelts 1933 Inauguration (2:15)

  • Describe the significance of FDR's line of "there is nothing to fear, but fear itself" in his inauguration speech.

  • What line changed in the last minute of FDR's inauguration address?

  • Do you think FDR's inaugural address would be effective in helping give the nation confidence during the Great Depression? Explain.

• ASSIGNMENT

  Break students into groups and have each group view the following video clips. Students should take notes using the handout provided or answer the individual Bell Ringer questions, and then share their findings with the rest of the class.

  HANDOUT: New Deal Handout (Google Doc)

• Video Clip: Franklin Roosevelt's First 100 Days (0:52)

  Herman Eberhardt discussed the legislation that Franklin Roosevelt passed in his first 100 days as president.

  Video Clip: FDR and the New Deal (9:01)

  Author and History Professor Eric Rauchway discusses the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the New Deal.

  Video Clip: The Great Depression and Public Policy (6:58)

  Author Amity Shlaes talks about the various public policy attempts to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression.

  Video Clip: New Deal and Economic Recovery (7:35)

  University of California, Davis history professor Eric Rauchway talks about the state of the U.S. and global economy after the Wall Street crash of 1929, as well as the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal programs that helped to foster economic recovery.

  Video Clip: The Legacy of the New Deal (1:48)

  Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns discussed the impact and legacy of FDR's New Deal.

• CONCLUSION

  After watching the videos and reporting out to the class, have students participate in a "Take a Stand" activity with the following question.

  "FDR's New Deal programs were responsible for stabilizing the economy and ending the Great Depression"

  Have students line up on a continuum based on their opinion from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” Ask several students from different points on the line to share their reasoning and defend their position.

• ASSESSMENT

  After completing the "Take a Stand" activity, have students write an essay (or similar culminating activity) that includes the following information. Students should cite specific examples from the videos and class discussion.

  • The goal of Franklin Roosevelt's first 100 days as president

  • Different examples of New Deal programs, their goals, and their impact

  • The different events that led to the end of the Great Depression

  • The lasting impact of the New Deal on the United States today