The Great Depression DBQ

Historical Context: The Great Depression in the United States started in 1929 when the stock market crashed. The depression last over ten years and had long-term social, economic, and political effects on American society.

Task: Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history and government, answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Using your answers from Part A you will write an essay (Part B) in which you will be able to:

Part A: Short Answer

Document #1

1. What is the author, John Steinbeck, referring to in this quote from his 1939 novel?

Document #2

2a. According to the authors, what was the only way World War I Veterans could receive their Bonus check before 1945?

2b. Where did the Veterans go in order to demand their bonus check?

3c. What happened to the veterans who protested?

Document 3a

Document 3b

3. Based on these two documents, name two different items that were be given away for free to the unemployed?

Document #4

4. According to this 1931 cartoon, what are three different ways the man should follow to achieve prosperity?

Document #5

5a. According to this document, what job are the 6 people behind the bench all testing for?

5b. What has President F.D.R. thrown away in this hiring process?

Document 6

6a. According to the chart, which year saw the Dow Jones hit its lowest mark?

6b. What year did the stock market crash?

Document 7

7a. According to the Department of State, was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff an initial cause of the Depression?

7b. What was one problem that came about from the Smoot-Hawley Tariff?

Document 8

New Deal Programs Created under President Roosevelt

Program
Initials
Begun
Purpose
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC
1933
Insured savings accounts in banks up to $5,000.00 in 1933

Works Progress Administration

WPA

1935
Employed men and women to build hospitals, schools, parks, and airports.

Social Security Act

SSA

1935
Set up a system of insurance for elderly, unemployed, and the disabled

Civilian Conservation Corps

CCC

1933
Provided jobs to young men to plants trees, build bridges, parks, and set up flood control projects

Securities
Exchange Act

SEC

1934
Set up the Securities and Exchange Commission to oversee the stock market and advisors

8a. Up to how much money did the FDIC guarantee savings accounts in 1933?

8b. What was the purpose of creating the SEC?

Document 9

9. According to the document, was Herbert Hoover always known as a failure to the people?

Document 10

10. According to these lyrics, why did the man only buy one meat ball?

Part B: DBQ Essay

Historical Context: The Great Depression in the United States started in 1929 when the stock market crashed. The depression last over ten years and had long-term social, economic, and political effects on American society.

Task: Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history and government, answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Using your answers from Part A you will write an essay (Part B) in which you will be able to:

Discuss the social, economic, and political effects on American society during the Great Depression.

Be sure to:

Include outside information
Use at least 6 documents