Depression //Recession
Depression // Recession: Then & Now
Team #__
First Last [Student name(s)]
Mark Keppel High School
United States History and Geography: Continuity & Change in the 20th Century
Mr. Tran, MA Ed.
March 09, 2012
1
Depression //Recession
2
Depression // Recession: Then & Now
The purpose of this paper is to: (a) analyze the causes and effects of the Great Depression
of the 1930s; (b) highlight a key figure during the Depression; (c) compare and contrast the Great
Depression with the Great Recession of 2008; and (d) reflect (on a personal level) the effects of
the current Great Recession (Danzer et al., 1999). [This is the introduction. Use the first sentence
as directed. Write 5-7 more sentences in the introduction to your paper. For each paragraph in
this paper, provide at least one in-text citation (paraphrase or quotes/APA). Provide the full
citations of your sources on the References Page at the end.]
Causes of the Great Depression
The Great Depression was due a combination of factors including: (a) a stock-based
economy that perpetuated a superficial prosperity; (b) an unequal distribution of income; (c)
problems in industry and the farm sector; (d) increasing consumer debt; and (e) stock market
speculation and crash (Danzer et al., 1999). [Write 6-7 more sentences before providing a
detailed explanation of the causes.]
Stock-based Economy
The economy of the 1920s was overly dependent on the stock market. Over time, this
situation created an artificial prosperity where an ever-increasing percentage of wealth was
invested in an unstable stock market. [Provide a detailed explanation of why each one of the
following factors contributed to the Great Depression. Each section should be at least one
paragraph in length.]
Unequal Distribution of Wealth
Depression //Recession
3
Problem in Industry and Farm Sector
Increasing Consumer Debt
Speculation and Crash
Effects of the Great Depression
The effects of the Great Depression were: (a) massive unemployment of more than 25
percent; (b) rise of shantytowns; (c) bank and school closures; (d) worldwide economic
depression; and (e) increased involvement of the federal government in managing the economy.
[Write 5-6 more sentences before providing a detailed explanation of the effects.]
Massive Unemployment
[Write a paragraph detailing/explaining this effect with respect to the Great Depression].
Shantytowns
Bank & School Closures
Increased Government Involvement in Economy
Biography: [name of person]
[Write a two page biography of a key figure during the Great Depression. Each team will
select a different key figure based on the following (Hebert Hoover, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Upton Sinclair, John Steinbeck, Huey Long, Dorothea Lange, Harry Hopkins, Francis Perkins,
John Maynard Keynes, Mary McLeod Bethume, John Collier, Robert F. Wagner, Grant Wood,
Richard Wright & Orson Welles). For each biography, write a one paragraph introduction before
Depression //Recession
4
focusing on the person’s (a) background, (b) contributions or role during the Great Depression,
and (c) legacy with respect to today.]
Background
Contribution
Legacy
The Great Recession of 2008
The Great Recession of 2008 occurred because of (a) a commodities boom, (b) the
housing bubble, (c) inflation, and (d) income inequality. The effects of the current recession have
been: (a) high unemployment; (b) low consumer confidence; (c) decline in home values; (d)
increased foreclosures and personal bankruptcies; (e) escalating federal and state debts; (f)
inflation (gas & food prices); and (g) even greater income inequality.[In this section, write threefour pages explaining the causes and effects of the current Recession.]
Commodities Boom
Housing Bubble
Inflation
Income Inequality
[Before writing about the effects of the Recession of 2008, write a transitional paragraph
which links the causes and effects of the economic downturn.]
High Unemployment
Depression //Recession
5
Low Consumer Confidence
Escalating Federal and State Debts
Inflation
Greater Income Inequality
Then & Now
[Write an analysis in which you compare and contrast the Great Depression and the Great
Recession of 2008. Point out similarities and explain the differences with respect to: (a)
underlining causes of both periods; (b) similar effects; (c) differences; (d) federal responses in
both periods; and (e) worldwide implications.
Underlining Causes
Similar Effects
Differences
Federal Responses
Worldwide Implications
Reflections on the Great Recession
[As a group, reflect in this paragraph how the Great Recession has affected your lives as
young adults. Write a common paragraph before transitioning to individual reflections of how
the bad economy has affected you (your family) personally.]
First Student
Depression //Recession
Second Student
Third Student
Fourth Student
[Write a 1-2 paragraph conclusion in which you reflect on what you have learned about
American history from doing this research report (with respect to life, history, APA
conventions).]
6
Depression //Recession
7
References
Bikel, O. (Producer). (2008). Close to home. (film). Arlington, VA: PBS.
Danzer, G., Klor de Alva, J., Krieger, L., Wilson, L., & Woloch, N. (1999).
The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th century. Boston, MA: McDougal Littell.
Gazit, G. (Producer). (1998). Surviving the dustbowl. (film). Arlington, VA: PBS.
Towers, J. & Maday, C. (Producers). (2009). The great depression. (film). New York:
A&E Network.
Wikipedia. (2012). The great depression. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Depression