Introduction
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade following World War II. In the United States, the Great Depression started in August 1929 and what followed was a decade of high unemployment (over 20%) and poverty (people were living in cardboard boxes on the street). During the Great Depression, the United States went through a host of major political changes. Three years into the depression, Herbert Hoover lost the presidential election to Franklin D. Roosevelt and for the first time in American history, there was an increase of people emigrating to other countries.
Task
You have just traveled back in time to the winter of 1932. The economy of the United States has reached rock bottom and the unemployment rate is now almost at 20%. Your task is to write a paper, giving your first hand accounts of what you have witnessed during your trip back in time. Tell us what you would do if you were alive during the great depression? Would you stay and deal with the suffering? Or would you leave the United State for greener pastures? Be prepared to share your thoughts and idea with the class!
Process
In this assignment, you will give all of your accounts in the first person. When writing you paper, be sure to consider the following:
- How does the city look?
- Do the residents seem happy?
- What are the living conditions like?
- What jobs, if any, are available?
- Would you want to stay there? Why or why not?
Remember, these are just guiding questions to get you thinking; you can add whatever else you feel would be appropriate to defend your view.
You are also required to use images to supplement your written work (remember images are not just pictures, they can be graphs and tables to!).
After watching these two short videos introducing you to the Great Depression, use the links below to find out what life was really like for Americans during the Great Depression.
Brief History
Timeline of the Great Depression
First Hand Accounts
Pictures