You will design a scrapbook entitled –

            THE DEPRESSION YEARS:  USA IN THE 1930s.

You will work collaboratively in groups of 4 or 5 to produce an educational document. 

This document will serve to demonstrate a period in American history depicting the frustrations and hopes of those who "lived" the GREAT DEPRESSION.

As a group read each assigned role in order to choose one per student.

• Historian

• Economist

• Health and Science Expert

• Lawyer

• Migrant Worker (team of 5 members)

• Publisher Editor (team of 4 members)

Historian

Research the decade with the purpose of creating a historical timeline explaining, in detail, and accompanied by appropriate photographs etc. the various aspects of this era, specifically the cause, important events, and the effect on the people and the nation. Be sure to include the following:

1. From boom to bust – Give an overview of  the era before the 1930s specifically the economy of the 1920s prior to the 1929 crash.   Economy collapses – Explain the term “Black Tuesday.”

2. The DUST BOWL YEARS – Explain the cause and the effects of these years and how long it lasted. Also explain “ Black Sunday.”

3. Government – Examine the government of the era – who were the Presidents  and how  they attempted to deal with the dilemma.

4. List of major players in the fields of Literature, Discoveries/ Inventions such as medicine, science, technology, architecture etc.

5. Evolution of the role of women in the work force and politics prior, during, and after the Depression.

6. Examine education of the times and how it was affected by the Depression. Such things as: enrolment, attendance, discipline tactics, number and role of teacher and student, drop-out rate and total public expenditure.

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Economist

You will create a pictorial editorial explaining in detail the fall from wealth and prosperity of the 1920s to the depression of the Dirty Thirties.

In detail, comment on all of the following topics and any other you feel are necessary:

1. Explain the stock market and the Dow Jones Industrial average. 

2. Compare the price of various commodities prior to and during the Depression.   Ex: food, clothes, housing, shopping list for a family of 4.

3. Relief payments – What were they?- How did they work? What were the results?  Things done to help directly the common person.  Ex: food, stamps, etc.

4. Troubled families – Why not all suffered and why. Explain it. Statistics showing the homeless, unemployed, drifters etc by age, sex, race, state - particularly California.

5. Social aid programs then and now.  Focus specifically on California. Compare to Mexico.

6. Diversion, Leisure, Fads and Fashions of the 1930s. – pictures, prices, catalogue samples. Include also information on the popular sport, entertainment, music and Art personalities of the times.

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Political Expert

As the expert in this field you will explain in detail using charts, photos etc. specific aspects of governmental policies during the Great Depression under President Roosevelt. 

1. Early Life and entry into politics

2. Crippled by Polio

3. Return to Politics

4. First Administration

5. Second Administration

 

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Lawyer

As the legal expert you will research and present aspects of the laws from the Depression years and today, that pertain to human rights issues for individuals in the USA.

1. Explain, in detail, what Jim Crow laws were.

2. Who was Jim Crow?  What is the history behind the name?

3. What Supreme Court case supported the creation of Jim Crow Laws?  What year was it?  What was the event that sparked this court case?

4. List some of some of these laws.

5. What were the Scottsboro Trials in  Alabama?  Give an overview of the event that brought the case to court.

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Migrant Worker (teams of 5 members)

You will write a detailed daily log from the perspective of a migrant worker.  You will track your experience from just before the Depression years to the present times explaining:

1. What is a migrant worker?

2. Pros and cons of such a career – affect on family life- on children and their education and social life.

3. Terminology pertinent to this job.

4. Rights and Laws of migrant workers in USA and Mexico in the Depression years and now.

5. Picture portfolio to accompany all aspects of this life.

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Publisher Editor

One member from each group should be in charge of the Scrapbook design.  As a group, determine the design to be used.  Each member of the group should follow the design chosen when completing individual pages.

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