Effects of the Great Depression on American society
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the effects of the Great Depression on different groups in American society.
Key learning points
- Business failures, unemployment, poverty and homelessness were common hardships faced during the Great Depression.
- Different groups experienced the bust years differently.
- The very rich often retained more of their wealth than poorer Americans.
- African Americans and people of Mexican heritage generally experienced greater hardship than the average American.
Keywords
Mortgage - a mortgage is money that you borrow from the bank to buy a home
Sharecropper - a sharecropper was a farmer who rented a small area of land from a landowner; they had to give a share of the crops they grew to their landlord
Common misconception
All groups in America experienced increased hardship as a result of the Great Depression.
Increased hardship was the most common experience during the Great Depression but there still gains for some groups: overall female employment increased and some Americans, such as Hollywood stars, were still able to become very wealthy.
Teacher tip
Direct students to interviews with Americans during the Great Depression. As part of learning cycle 2, students should identify similarities and differences between these experiences of the Great Depression. Ask students to attempt to explain any differences they identify.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word (beginning with R). Food, money or services provided to people in need is called .
Q2.Who was president at the time that the Great Depression began?
Q3.Why was the Hawley-Smoot tariff a problem?
Q4.What did the Bonus Army ask for in 1932?
Q5.How did Hoover's idea of 'rugged individualism' affect his initial response to the Great Depression?
Q6.Starting with earliest, sort the following steps to explain how Roosevelt planned to help the economy recover.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. A was a farmer who rented a small area of land from a landowner; they had to give a share of the crops they grew to their landlord
Q2.How did unemploymnet in the USA change betweeb 1929 and 1933?
Q3.Which group constantly travelled from place to place in search of work during the Depression?
Q4.Which statement is most accurate about conditions during the Great Depression?
Q5.Based on the experience of Mae West, which conclusion is most valid?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following to explain why many people of Mexican heritage were deported from the USA during the Great Depression.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Effects of the Great Depression on American society, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Effects of the Great Depression on American society, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the America 1920–1973, Opportunity and inequality unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.