US II CAP Assignment: “Dear Mrs. Roosevelt”
Step One: Analyze the Letters.
Click on: Dear Mrs. Roosevelt. Read “How the Depression Effected
Children,” “The Letters” (Requests for Clothes, Money, Bicycles and Luxuries) and
“Mrs. Roosevelt’s Response.”
Answer the following questions in detail:
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Discuss the characteristics of those who wrote the letters. Is there a general
pattern that emerges in regards to gender, age, race, religion, geographic
region, education, or the apparent socio-economic status of their parents in
the letters? Explain.
 In your opinion, is writing to a powerful or influential person about a
problem an effective means of resolving that problem? Why or why not?
 Comment on the replies Mrs. Roosevelt sent to the children's letters. How
would you feel if you had received the "secretary's letter."
 Do the letters featured here validate the idea that everyone was "in the same
boat?” Find specific evidence in the letters confirming or refuting this.
 Identify specific ways that children tried to convince Mrs. Roosevelt that they
were uniquely worthy of her help. What do their rationales reveal about
their values? Do kids today have these same values? Explain.
 Select the most convincing letter and explain why that particular letter stood
out for you.
Step Two: Letter Writing Assignment.
Identify a world issue that worries you personally (environmental problem,
terrorism, disease, hunger, war, etc.) and write a letter (via email or “snail” mail to
the person you believe has the greatest influence in solving it—it could be the
President, the First Lady, a member of Congress, an athlete, or an entertainment
personality. You will need to do a little googling here to see what famous figures are
involved with specific causes---just don’t make something up!!! Needs to be in letterformat and address your concerns about the issue selected and discuss what you
would like that person to do to help solve it.
After you have completed your letter, answer the following:
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Do you believe that it can be useful to write to a celebrity seeking a solution
to an identified problem? Why or why not?
Do you expect a response? Why or why not?
Do you think the modern response you may (or may not) receive will be
similar to those received by the children who wrote to Mrs. Roosevelt? Why
or why not?