Exploring the Great Depression
Investigating the causes of the Depression
Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/rails-timeline/ and
answer the following questions:
1) When did the Great Depression begin? What event sparked it?
2) Locate November 1930 on the timeline: What did many Americans do to earn money during
the depression?
3) Locate February 1931 on the timeline: What sort of demonstrations did Americans take part in
during the Great Depression?
4) Find on the timeline when FDR was elected President of the United States. Who was FDR’s
opponent and why do you think Americans did not re-elect him?
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Evidence of the Depression
Go to http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/photos# and view each picture in the
slideshow along with their captions. Then answer the following questions:
5) Name 4 things people are waiting in line for:
6) Before the state and federal governments provided assistance, who was providing relief to
Americans?
7) A subsistence level is the bare minimum of basic needs that a family requires to survive. What
percentage of American families was living below this level?
Cultural Analysis
Use the internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to
Cultural Analysis.
1. What was the purpose of implementing Arts during the Depression?
2. How did the radio and newspaper report about the depression era?
Exploring the Great Depression
3. What was the African-American perspective on the Depression?
Your main goal as a cultural analyst is to determine what the culture (arts) of the Depression
explains about their attitudes. Did people look to the arts (movies, paintings) for
inspiration? You should be able to explain what the newspaper, radio scripts, art, and film say
about the era.
1. African-American Perspective of the Great Depression - This website
describes how African-Americans survived the depression.
2. Picture of a Soup Kitchen - This picture portrays the lack of despair during the
Depression.
3. The 1930s in Print - On this website you can navigate the newspaper by clicking
on the sections located on the left-hand side.
4. Art and Projects during the 1930s- At the bottom of this website, click on the
various projects to see the spirit of the 1930s.
5. Radio during the 1930s - On this website click on various titles to learn about
radio programs during the 1930s.
6. The Great Depression and the Arts - Describes the Arts in the 1930s.
7. Films in the 1930s - Explores the Golden Age of Hollywood.
8. Added Obstacles for African Americans -Info on the impact of the Great
Depression on African Americans.
9. Striking a Chord: Railroads and Their Musical Heritage - Music and the
Great Depression
10. Radio in the 1920s -- What did your radio do and look like in the 20's? Check it
out here!
11. Songs of the Great Depression - A collection of songs from that Era!
American in the 1930's - Explore this site to find more cultural info.
One Page response: Using the evidence from the websites you visited, in what ways did the Great
Depression completely alter American politics and culture?