Unit 5: The 1920's, Great Depression and New Deal

Students will understand the economic and social transformation of the 1920s, the catastrophic failure of the economy in 1929, and the government's subsequent response. Key knowledge areas include:The Roaring Twenties: The impact of the assembly line on mass production, the rise of consumer culture through installment buying, and the cultural conflicts of the era, such as Prohibition and the Red Scare.Causes of the Great Depression: Technical factors including overspeculation in the stock market, the significance of "Black Tuesday" (October 29, 1929), and how agricultural decline and bank failures contributed to the crisis.The Human Toll: The reality of life during the Depression, including "Hoovervilles," the Dust Bowl migration, and record-high unemployment rates.FDR and the New Deal: The shift from Herbert Hoover’s "Rugged Individualism" to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s direct relief programs and the creation of "Alphabet Agencies" like the CCC, WPA, and Social Security Act.

Students will engage in historical analysis and critical thinking through several specific tasks:Analyze Economic Trends: Compare and contrast the "Laissez-Faire" economic policies of the 1920s with the interventionist policies of the New Deal.Evaluate Primary Sources: Examine 1930s-era photographs (such as Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother) and propaganda to understand the emotional and social climate of the period.Vocabulary Mastery: Define and apply key historical terms such as "Speculation," "Flapper," "Speakeasy," and "Rugged Individualism".Compare Presidential Philosophies: Analyze the differing approaches of Hoover and Roosevelt regarding the government's responsibility to its citizens.

Learning is assessed through various formative and summative methods:Unit Tests and Quizzes: Comprehensive assessments covering key vocabulary, the timeline of the stock market crash, and the functions of New Deal agencies.Study Guides and Worksheets: Detailed written responses that explain the long-term effects of the assembly line and the causes of the Dust Bowl.Analytical Presentations: Use of visual aids and data to explain the relationship between the stock market crash and the resulting global economic downturn.Reading and Discussion: Interpreting texts regarding the "First Hundred Days" and participating in discussions on whether the New Deal successfully ended the Depression.