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Photo taken from Herbert Hoover Library website

INTRODUCTION

You are embarking on a quest today to uncover the reason(s) for the rampant unemployment in the United States during the Great Depression. As historical investigators, you will put yourself into America during the 1920’s and 1930’s when economic disaster dragged our country through the depths of despair. You will use a 6 step process to figure out a solution to massive unemployment, and compare it to what policies were really used. Imagine not having enough food to eat. Imagine losing your home because you could not afford to make a $34 mortgage payment (This actually happened to my great-grandfather). Imagine the increased alcoholism and drug abuse in families caused by unemployment. Let’s check it out. Let’s go! First, go to the following website, pick either the standard or the graphic description and check out the 6 step process that you will be using: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/ppae3.html

TASK
> Using the provided Word links, you will print out the worksheets for the various steps, fill them out and turn them in to me as you gather the evidence.

> Along with the paper work, you will create a hand written timeline of actual Great Depression employment events, with at least 3 pictorial images to go along with it. You will find timelines on our hyperlinks.

> Pick 3 of the web based articles under Resources and write reading notes for each. Print out this worksheet for Reading notes---READINGNOTES

PROCESS

Here is your 6 step process to solve rampant unemployment during the Great Depression:

1. Define the problem Print out this worksheet to Define --- Worksheet1: "Defining the social problem"(MSWORD)

2. Gather evidence Print out this worksheet to gather the evidence--- Worksheet2: "Gathering evidence of the problem"(MSWORD)

3. Identify causes Print out this worksheet to identify the causes--- Worksheet3: "Identifying the cause of the problem"(MSWORD)
4. Evaluate a policy Print out this worksheet to evaluate the policy---Worksheet4: "Evaluating Existing Public Policies"(MSWORD)
5. Develop solutions Print out this worksheet to develop solutions---Worksheet5: "Developing public policy solutions"(MSWORD)
6. Select best solution Print out this worksheet to select the best solution---Worksheet6: "Selecting the best public policy solution" (MSWORD)

RESOURCES

Use the following websites to analyze why the Great Depression occurred, and how it can be overcome. Use the timeline sites to get your timeline of Great Depression economic events:

WHY?

DETAILS

TIMELINE INFO

AN ECONOMIC MIND REFLECTS ON THE GREAT DEPRESSION

A JOURNALIST REFLECTS CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

STATISTICS ON THE GREAT DEPRESSION

A FRONT SEAT VIEW OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

MORE THOUGHTS

EVALUATION

You will be graded on:

1. Completed Public Policy worksheets
2. Completed handwritten Economic events of the Great Depression timeline with at least 3 pictorial images
3. Completed reading notes from 3 of the web based articles

The New York State Social Studies Learning Standards that we will meet:

Standard 1 --- History of the United States and New York

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate Their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, And turning points in the history of the United States and New York.

Standard 5 --- Civics, Citizenship, and Government Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

CONCLUSION

You’re done!!! I hope that this Webquest exercise helped you to understand the rampant unemployment during the Great Depression and helped strengthen your ability to logically analyze a problem and find a solution. Expect more in the future!

Mr. Gill

Social Studies Department

Binghamton High School