First New Deal Alphabet Agencies

Students explore the creation of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First New Deal and how a series of “alphabet agencies” offered solutions during the Great Depression. They’ll examine the purpose and impact of programs like the CCC, AAA, TVA, FDIC, and SEC. Activities include analyzing political cartoons, interpreting agency goals, and answering short-response questions. Students will reflect on how these programs provided jobs, restored confidence, and expanded the federal government’s role in supporting everyday Americans.

Included in this resource:

Do Now - “New Deal Lexicon” 1935 primary source political cartoon analysis with scaffolding questions
Alphabet Agencies of the First New Deal graphic organizer reading passage with scaffolding questions
AAA
PWA
CCC
FDIC
TVA
NIRA
SEC
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the new alphabet agencies change the way the government helped people during the Great Depression?
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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