Chapter 8—Lesson 1 The Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II

Chapter 8—Lesson 1The Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II

Chapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIIChapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIILesson 1Lesson 1

ALCOS #12: Explain the effects of the events of the ALCOS #12: Explain the effects of the events of the 19201920’’s and the Great Depression on different s and the Great Depression on different

socioeconomic groups.socioeconomic groups.

••over cropping of land, unemployment, over cropping of land, unemployment, poverty, establishment of new federal programspoverty, establishment of new federal programs

OUTCOMEOUTCOMEStudents will be able to create a political cartoon Students will be able to create a political cartoon that symbolizes the problems brought on by the Great that symbolizes the problems brought on by the Great Depression and the solutions made in attempt to make Depression and the solutions made in attempt to make

life better. life better.

Listen to the story of Listen to the story of ““The Grasshopper and the AntThe Grasshopper and the Ant””. Talk . Talk to your partner about the lesson taught by the story.to your partner about the lesson taught by the story.

What character in the story could be compared to most What character in the story could be compared to most people in the 1920people in the 1920’’s (grasshopper or ant)? Talk to your s (grasshopper or ant)? Talk to your partner and discuss what they have in common.partner and discuss what they have in common.

In this lesson, you will learn about a difficult time in the In this lesson, you will learn about a difficult time in the history of our country. history of our country.

Chapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIIChapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIILesson 1Lesson 1

Once there lived an ant and a grasshopper in a grassy meadow.

All day long the ant would work hard, collecting grains of wheat from the farmer's field far away. She would hurry to the field every morning, as soon as it was light enough to see by, and toil back with a heavy grain of wheat

balanced on her head. She would put the grain of wheat carefully away in her larder, and then hurry back to the field for another one. All day long she would work, without stop or rest, scurrying back and forth from the field,

collecting the grains of wheat and storing them carefully in her larder.The grasshopper would look at her and laugh. 'Why do you work so hard, dear ant?' he would say. 'Come, rest awhile, listen to my song. Summer is here, the days are long and bright. Why waste the sunshine in labour and

toil?'

The ant would ignore him, and head bent, would just hurry to the field a little faster. This would make the grasshopper laugh even louder. 'What a silly little ant you are!' he would call after her. 'Come, come and dance with me! Forget about work! Enjoy the summer! Live a little!' And the grasshopper would hop away across the

meadow, singing and dancing merrily.Summer faded into autumn, and autumn turned into winter. The sun was hardly seen, and the days were short

and grey, the nights long and dark. It became freezing cold, and snow began to fall.The grasshopper didn't feel like singing any more. He was cold and hungry. He had nowhere to shelter from the snow, and nothing to eat. The meadow and the farmer's field were covered in snow, and there was no food to be

had. 'Oh what shall I do? Where shall I go?' wailed the grasshopper. Suddenly he remembered the ant. 'Ah - I shall go to the ant and ask her for food and shelter!' declared the grasshopper, perking up. So off he went to the ant's house and knocked at her door. 'Hello ant!' he cried cheerfully. 'Here I am, to sing for you, as I warm myself

by your fire, while you get me some food from that larder of yours!'The ant looked at the grasshopper and said, 'All summer long I worked hard while you made fun of me, and sang

and danced. You should have thought of winter then! Find somewhere else to sing, grasshopper! There is no warmth or food for you here!' And the ant shut the door in the grasshopper's face.

It is wise to worry about tomorrow today.

Chapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIIChapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIILesson 1 (page 233)Lesson 1 (page 233)

∙ ∙ In the 1920In the 1920’’s Americans s Americans were enjoying prosperity! were enjoying prosperity! Prices were up, the New Prices were up, the New York stock market was York stock market was booming, and money was booming, and money was even more available.even more available.

∙ ∙ The good times came to an end The good times came to an end in in October 1929 October 1929 when the New when the New York York stock market stock market (a market in (a market in which stocks and bonds are which stocks and bonds are traded) traded) crashed.crashed.

∙ ∙ People kept buying stocks with People kept buying stocks with borrowed moneyborrowed money, and then the , and then the value of the stocks dropped to value of the stocks dropped to nothing. nothing. Many banks failed and Many banks failed and people lost the money in their people lost the money in their accounts.accounts.

∙ ∙ Factories, mines, and mills shut Factories, mines, and mills shut down leaving people down leaving people without a without a jobjob. Because of this loss, many . Because of this loss, many people people moved back to the farm moved back to the farm or moved in with other family or moved in with other family members.members.


∙ ∙ The Great Depression was hard The Great Depression was hard on almost everyone!on almost everyone!

∙ ∙ The farm land was in poor The farm land was in poor condition, condition, farmers couldn’t sell farmers couldn’t sell their producetheir produce, cotton prices were , cotton prices were low. One good thing about being low. One good thing about being a rural family was that they could a rural family was that they could at least grow or raise there own at least grow or raise there own food.food.

∙ ∙ For entertainment, some families For entertainment, some families played fiddles or pianos and sang played fiddles or pianos and sang together. Children found ways to together. Children found ways to play for free such as corn shuck play for free such as corn shuck toys, play baseball, horse shoes, toys, play baseball, horse shoes, marbles, checkers, or fly marbles, checkers, or fly homemade kites.homemade kites.

Chapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIIChapter 7: The Great Depression, The New Deal, and WWIILesson 1 (pages 233-234)Lesson 1 (pages 233-234)

∙ ∙ People living in the cities needed People living in the cities needed money to buy food. Without a job, money to buy food. Without a job, men could not buy food for their men could not buy food for their families. families. Local churches and relief Local churches and relief agencies opened agencies opened ““soup kitchenssoup kitchens”” to feed people.to feed people. The number of The number of needy people kept increasing!needy people kept increasing!

∙ ∙ Even though times were tough, Even though times were tough, Alabamians had faith that Alabamians had faith that Americans could work their way Americans could work their way out of the depression.out of the depression.

∙ ∙ The Great Depression was the The Great Depression was the worst and longest lasting worst and longest lasting economic economic recessionrecession (a period (a period of economic limitation = no of economic limitation = no money) money) our country had ever our country had ever experienced.experienced.


∙ ∙ Think about what you have Think about what you have learned so far about the Great learned so far about the Great Depression. What problems are Depression. What problems are being faced by Alabamians, as being faced by Alabamians, as well as many other Americans, at well as many other Americans, at this time in our history? (1 this time in our history? (1 minute think time)minute think time)

∙ ∙ Turn and Talk to your Turn and Talk to your partner/group about partner/group about your thinking.your thinking.



∙ ∙ Benjamin Meek Miller Benjamin Meek Miller was governor when was governor when Roosevelt was elected. Roosevelt was elected. The state of Alabama The state of Alabama had an $18 million debt had an $18 million debt and still needed money. and still needed money. He required the people He required the people to pay more taxes, which to pay more taxes, which helped the state to pay helped the state to pay off debt and help the off debt and help the needy.needy.

∙ ∙ Miller also got the Miller also got the Budget Control Act Budget Control Act passed which forced the passed which forced the state to only spend state to only spend money that it makes…money that it makes…no no more borrowing money!more borrowing money!


∙ ∙ RooseveltRoosevelt’’s New Deal had 3 goals:s New Deal had 3 goals:

1.1. ReliefRelief for people who needed food for people who needed food and shelterand shelter

2.2. RecoveryRecovery to lift the country out of to lift the country out of the recession and provide jobsthe recession and provide jobs

3.3. ReformReform to create laws to make sure to create laws to make sure such a recession never happens such a recession never happens againagain


New Deal programs helped Alabama:New Deal programs helped Alabama:1. Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC)- put young men to work by 1. Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC)- put young men to work by

constructing17 state parksconstructing17 state parks2. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)- built dams(provided electricity), 2. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)- built dams(provided electricity),

controlled flooding and improved navigation on the Tennessee Rivercontrolled flooding and improved navigation on the Tennessee River3. Glass-Steagall Banking Act- protected people3. Glass-Steagall Banking Act- protected people’’s bank accountss bank accounts4. Home Owners4. Home Owners’’ Refinancing Act-help Alabamians keep their homes Refinancing Act-help Alabamians keep their homes5. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)- raised farm product prices by limiting 5. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)- raised farm product prices by limiting

productionproduction6. Works Progress Administration (WPA)- built public buildings , constructed 6. Works Progress Administration (WPA)- built public buildings , constructed

buildings, and paved roads. In Alabama, constructed part of the buildings, and paved roads. In Alabama, constructed part of the Archives building in Montgomery.Archives building in Montgomery.

7. Social Security Act- gave old-age pensions for retired workers, paid for by 7. Social Security Act- gave old-age pensions for retired workers, paid for by a payroll tax.a payroll tax.

∙ ∙ 1929- A great flood came to 1929- A great flood came to Alabama after it rained for several Alabama after it rained for several days. days.

∙ ∙ Levees (embankments built to Levees (embankments built to control flooding) control flooding) were built to keep were built to keep some cities from flooding.some cities from flooding.

∙ ∙ Reservoirs were also built behind Reservoirs were also built behind dams to reduce flooding on Alabamdams to reduce flooding on Alabamaa ’’s rivers.s rivers.


∙ ∙ An important project of the An important project of the WPAWPA was was a tunnel that went under the Mobile a tunnel that went under the Mobile River and connected the city of River and connected the city of Mobile to Blakely Island.Mobile to Blakely Island.

∙ ∙ Construction began in 1939 and Construction began in 1939 and the tunnel was opened in 1941. It the tunnel was opened in 1941. It cost more than 40 million dollars cost more than 40 million dollars to build.to build.


∙ ∙ The worst part of the The worst part of the depression hit in 1933, and depression hit in 1933, and after that, condition slowly after that, condition slowly improved.improved.

∙ ∙ 1935- 1935- Bibb Graves Bibb Graves was was reelected governor of reelected governor of Alabama.Alabama.

∙ ∙ 1937- Governor Graves 1937- Governor Graves appointed his wife, Dixie, appointed his wife, Dixie, to fill a temporary seat in to fill a temporary seat in the Senate….she was the 1the Senate….she was the 1stst woman from Alabama to serve woman from Alabama to serve as a U.S. senator.as a U.S. senator.


Lesson 1 Review QuestionsLesson 1 Review Questions

- 1. What happened in October 1929 1. What happened in October 1929 that brought an end to the American that brought an end to the American prosperity of the 1920prosperity of the 1920’’s?s?

- 2. How did families take care of 2. How did families take care of one another during the depression?one another during the depression?

- 3.Where could townspeople without 3.Where could townspeople without food or money eat during the food or money eat during the depression?depression?

- 4. What is the Budget Control Act?4. What is the Budget Control Act?

- 5. What were the goals of Roosevel5. What were the goals of Rooseveltt’’s New Deal?s New Deal?


Lesson 1 Review AnswersLesson 1 Review Answers

- 1. The Great Depression happened in October 1929 and brought an 1. The Great Depression happened in October 1929 and brought an end to the American prosperity of the 1920end to the American prosperity of the 1920’’s.s.

- 2. Families took care of one another during the depression by 2. Families took care of one another during the depression by moving in together and sharing different chores around the house moving in together and sharing different chores around the house and farm. and farm.

- 3.Townspeople without food or money during the depression could 3.Townspeople without food or money during the depression could eat at soup kitchens.eat at soup kitchens.

- 4. The Budget Control Act forced the state not to spend more 4. The Budget Control Act forced the state not to spend more money than it makes.money than it makes.

- 5. The goals of Roosevelt5. The goals of Roosevelt’’s New Deal were relief for people s New Deal were relief for people needing food and shelter, recovery to provide jobs, and reform needing food and shelter, recovery to provide jobs, and reform to create new laws that made sure such a great depression never to create new laws that made sure such a great depression never happened again.happened again.


Lesson 1 ActivityLesson 1 Activity

- These cartoons used creativity and symbolism to These cartoons used creativity and symbolism to mock political events, express opinions, and to mock political events, express opinions, and to simply entertain the American people. After each simply entertain the American people. After each slide, discuss with your group what idea you slide, discuss with your group what idea you think this cartoon is trying to get across to the think this cartoon is trying to get across to the reader.reader.





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Chapter 8—Lesson 1 The Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II