Social Studies: The Great Depression and New Deal Worksheet

Question 1

Identify two major causes of the Great Depression and explain how each contributed to the economic crisis.

Accepted Answer

Two major causes of the Great Depression were the stock market crash of 1929 and weaknesses in the banking system. The stock market crash caused panic and wiped out much investor wealth, while bank failures destroyed savings and reduced the amount of money available for loans and business activity.

Question 2

Explain how unemployment during the Great Depression affected families and communities.

Accepted Answer

Unemployment during the Great Depression left many families without steady income, making it difficult to buy food, pay rent, and meet basic needs. Communities also suffered because local businesses lost customers, homelessness increased, and many people depended on charity or public assistance.

Question 3

Describe what happened on Black Tuesday and why it became an important symbol of the Great Depression.

Accepted Answer

Black Tuesday was October 29, 1929, when stock prices collapsed and investors sold millions of shares in panic. It became an important symbol of the Great Depression because it represented the dramatic failure of the stock market and the loss of confidence in the economy.

Question 4

What were Hoovervilles, and what do they reveal about public attitudes during the early years of the Depression?

Accepted Answer

Hoovervilles were shantytowns built by people who had lost their homes during the Great Depression. Their name showed that many Americans blamed President Herbert Hoover for not doing enough to respond to the crisis.

Question 5

Compare President Herbert Hoover's response to the Depression with Franklin D. Roosevelt's response.

Accepted Answer

Herbert Hoover generally favored limited direct federal intervention and believed local governments and private charities should take the lead. Franklin D. Roosevelt supported a more active federal role and created New Deal programs to provide relief, promote recovery, and reform the economy.

Question 6

Define the three goals of the New Deal: relief, recovery, and reform.

Accepted Answer

Relief meant immediate help for people suffering from poverty and unemployment. Recovery meant rebuilding the economy and creating jobs. Reform meant changing laws and institutions to prevent another severe economic collapse.

Question 7

Choose one New Deal agency or program, such as the CCC, WPA, FDIC, or Social Security, and explain its purpose.

Accepted Answer

One example is the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. Its purpose was to provide jobs for young men while they worked on environmental projects such as planting trees, building trails, and improving parks.

Question 8

How did the Dust Bowl worsen conditions during the Great Depression for many Americans?

Accepted Answer

The Dust Bowl worsened conditions during the Great Depression by destroying farmland with severe drought and dust storms, especially in the Great Plains. Many farm families lost crops, income, and homes, which forced them to migrate in search of work and better living conditions.

Question 9

Explain why bank failures were so damaging to the economy during the Great Depression.

Accepted Answer

Bank failures were damaging because people lost their savings and became afraid to trust banks. Businesses and farmers also had less access to credit, which reduced investment, slowed production, and made unemployment worse.

Question 10

What was the purpose of Social Security, and why was it significant at the time?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of Social Security was to provide financial support to older Americans and some other vulnerable groups through a federal system. It was significant because it created a long-term government safety net at a time when many people had little protection against poverty in old age.

Question 11

Describe one criticism of the New Deal from the political left or the political right.

Accepted Answer

One criticism from the political right was that the New Deal gave the federal government too much power and interfered too much in the economy. One criticism from the political left was that the New Deal did not go far enough to redistribute wealth or guarantee economic security for all Americans.

Question 12

In your view, how successful was the New Deal in addressing the problems of the Great Depression? Support your answer with at least two specific examples.

Accepted Answer

The New Deal was partly successful because it provided immediate relief, created jobs, and restored confidence in banks through reforms such as the FDIC. However, it did not fully end the Great Depression, and full economic recovery came later with increased production during World War II.

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Social Studies: The Great Depression and New Deal

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