Name ________________
Modern U.S. History
Mr. Kraft
The Roaring 20s and Great Depression
Take Home Essay Scoring Guide
Directions: Below is the scoring guide (rubric) for Take Home essay worth 50 points.
Format: If the correct format (hook, body, and conclusion) is not followed, 10 pts. will be
automatically subtracted from the score.
Explain how the Great Depression began, and the steps of the U.S. Government to help end the
Great Depression through the New Deal. In your answer also be sure to explain the successes and
failures of the New Deal, the biggest criticisms of the New Deal, and the event that eventually helped
end the Great Depression with an explanation as to why.
Essential Points:
a. Start of the Great Depression was WWI: (5 pts)
 Europe was destroyed after WWI and had absolutely no infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.).
How did this hurt Europe’s ability to develop an economy and have any economic activity?
 Why was U.S. in a better situation than Europe after the chaos of WWI? Explain how this
allowed the U.S. to not be involved in the Great Depression when it originally started.
 What was the event that brought the U.S. into the Great Depression?
b. Causes (Sec. # 4 of The Roaring 20s packet): Must list and explain five or more of these (5 pts.)
 This section lists 8 different causes for the Great Depression.
c. The “Scapegoat” (Blamed) – President Herbert Hoover: (1 pt.)
 How did president Hoover handle the Great Depression when it began in the U.S.? (Hint:
Look at Sec. # 4 of The Roaring 20s packet to help you with this part.)
 Explain what “Hoovervilles” are in this portion of the answer.
d. Franklin D. Roosevelt: (1 pt.)
 Was elected President after Hoover and wanted to help end the Great Depression through
legislation (laws).
e. The New Deals: (4 pts.)
 What is the New Deal?
 Why did FDR choose this name for this set of laws?
 What group helped FDR design the New Deal? Explain what this group is.
 New Deal Goals: relief, recovery, and reform
f. New Deal Legislation: Must list and explain five or more of these (5 pts.)
 Can choose any from the New Deals Legislation sheet.
g. Criticisms: (5 pts.) – Look at the New Deal’s Effectiveness handout for these.
 What were the communist and socialist criticisms of the New Deal?
 What group criticized the New Deal the most? Why this group?
 Why was FDR criticized for acting like a dictator?
 When considered FDR and his “Brain Trust”, why were others criticizing FDR as running the
U.S. government like an oligarchy?
h. Communist and Socialist models FDR was being compared to by the American people: (3 pts.)
 Who were the three leaders of different European countries that had their countries operating
under either a communist or socialist economy? (Hint: Look at the New Deal’s Effectiveness
Handout)
i. New Deal Accomplishments (Good Things): Must list and explain three or more of these (5 pts.)
 Look at the New Deal’s Effectiveness Handout for these.
j. New Deal Drawbacks (Bad Things): Must list and explain at least two or more of these (5 pts.)
 Look at the New Deal’s Effectiveness Handout for these.
k. The Forgotten Man: (3 pts.)
 What type of people were the “forgotten man” in FDR’s eyes?
 How did this affect private businesses owners and the rest of the economy?
 In actuality, who ended up being the “forgotten man” as result of the New Deal legislation?
l. Unemployment Rates: (3 pts.) – Look at the New Deal’s Effectiveness Handout for these
statistics.
 What is the unemployment rate?
 What was the U.S. unemployment rate when FDR became president?
 What happened to the U.S. unemployment rate during FDR’s presidency?
 Why have the unemployment rates during Great Depression caused many historians to
question the effectiveness of the New Deal?
m. WWII helped end the Great Depression: (5 pts.)
 WWII helped bring the U.S. out of the Great Depression because it stimulated the economy.
 The majority of America’s population now had the opportunity to work for wages in factories
producing supplies and materials the U.S. military needed to effectively fight in WWII.
 60,000,000 people were eager to work for FDR building weapons.
 Who was really the “sleeping giant” in the U.S. during WWII?