Great Depression Overview

What was the Great Depression, and how did it change life in the United States? This lesson and activity explore the causes, experiences, and lasting impact of the Great Depression. Students will learn about the stock market crash of 1929, the Dust Bowl, widespread unemployment, and the struggles faced by American families. Key topics include bank failures, breadlines, Hoovervilles, and the government’s changing role in helping citizens. Students will examine political cartoons, historical images, and short readings to build background knowledge. To demonstrate mastery, students will answer scaffolding questions and complete a final writing task explaining how the Great Depression transformed American life and the role of government in times of crisis.

Included in this resource:

Do Now - Victim of Bank Failure 1931 primary source political cartoon analysis with scaffolding questions
Document Activity (pass or stations) with scaffolding questions
Document #1: What Caused the Great Depression?
Document #2: What was life like during the Great Depression?
Document #3: How did the government respond?
Document #4: When did it end?
Document #5: Why does it matter today?
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the Great Depression change the way Americans lived and how the government helped them?
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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