This course focuses on the Great Depression and World War II and how they led to a major reordering of American politics and society. We will examine how ordinary people experienced these crises and how those experiences changed their outlook on politics and the world around them.

OYH Multimedia Anthologies anthologies collect a range of materials for exploring OYH topics. They parallel and supplement the OYHL school modules, available as Open Education Resources. . Groups of all ages can explore & discuss these rich and varied collections for sharing reflections on aspects of U.S. history and deepening historical knowledge. They are also available through the OYH website, https://www.ownyourhistory.us/multimediaresourcesIn US history, land  ownership provides family security and cohesion, wealth accumulation, and social advancement. American law supports  these goals for most Americans, but often not for Black Americans or other communities of color. The 1960s Civil Rights Movement led to some positive changes, but  inequality continues. This module primarily examines housing and financing discrimination affecting urban Black families, in urban areas, it briefly considers rural Black property ownership.The resource focuses on housing and real property ownership because of the important role of a home as a basis for economic security, wealth creation, family relationships and stability.

In US history, land  ownership provides family security and cohesion, wealth accumulation, and social advancement. The American law supports  these goals for most Americans, but often not for Black Americans or other communities of color. The 1960s Civil Rights Movement led to some positive changes, but  inequality continues. This module primarily examines housing and financing discrimination affecting urban Black families, in urban areas, it briefly considers rural Black property ownership.The module focuses on housing and real property ownership because of the important role of a home as a basis for economic security, wealth creation, family relationships and stability. The country has a substantial social investment in existing housing and the color-based housing patterns that still result in significant segregation in most cities. It asks how to move toward a legal system, housing policies and practices of  genuine equality, opportunity, and freedom for all without separation by color in our cities and communities. While not addressing reparations for inequalities from enslavement and segregation, it  asks students to develop proposals addressing such inequalities.

This course examines the social, cultural, political, and economic history of the United States, from the Civil War to the present. It uses secondary analysis and primary documents, such as court cases, personal accounts, photographs, and films, to examine some of the key issues in the shaping of modern America, including industrialization and urbanization, immigration, the rise of a mass consumer society, the emergence of the US as a global power, and the development of civil rights activism and other major social movements.

This is a collection of 900 boldly colored and graphically diverse posters produced as part of FDR's New Deal. These striking silkscreens, lithographs, and woodcuts were created to publicize health and safety programs; cultural programs including art exhibitions, theatrical, and musical performances; travel and tourism; educational programs; and community activities.

The 1930s were a nadir for Black Americans. Systemic segregation, subordination & economic privation were prevalent In American society nationwide. White Southern political power blocked New Deal benefits. Use the links to explore this history and the ways Black Americans increasingly took risks to more forcefully advocate for justice & equality.Civil rights fwas not on the national agenda in the 1930s. Segregation and  subordination of Black Americans were firmly rooted throughout American society and  the country. The Great Depression and later the emerging war crisis in Europe dominated national attention. Southerners in Congress opposed changes to help Black Americans, including anti-lynching bills, and amended New Deal legislation to deny Black Americans the benefits and programs being offered to white citizens.  A core topic of this resource is risk-taking, primarily by Marian Anderson, A. Philip Randolph, and Eleanor Roosevelt in publicly seeking to achieve greater rights for Black Americans .Their goals were modest by today’s standards, but their actions were historic.

Civil rights for Black Americans was not on the national agenda in the 1930s. Segregation and  subordination of Black Americans were firmly rooted throughout American society and in all parts of the country. The Great Depression and later the emerging war crisis in Europe dominated national attention. Southerners in Congress opposed changes to help Black Americans, including anti-lynching bills, and amended New Deal legislation to deny Black Americans the benefits and programs being offered to white citizens.   This module examines the leadership of three very different Americans—First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, world-renowned contralto Marian Anderson, and labor leader A. Philip Randolph. They each shared strong inner voices, an ability to imagine a world beyond the bounds allowed by the politics and society of their day, and a willingness to take risks for controversial civil rights advances in which they believed—all at a time when segregation and Black American deprivation were central aspects of American society in every part of the country.   

In this activity students read two letters (one from Hoover, one from FDR) to determine different political beliefs that guided the presidents in their responses to the Great Depression.

In this activity students learn about the goals of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the opportunities it provided for young men. Students create poster presentations about different aspects of the CCC by combining photographs and quotes from primary sources. Students will need poster-making supplies (including poster board or paper, markers, scissors, and glue/markers).

This collection uses primary sources to the history of food stamp programs. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.

In this activity students read letters from ordinary people to government leaders in the Roosevelt Administration. Then they interpret the range of attitudes about the changing role of the federal government during the New Deal. The letters for this activity all contain reading supports and teachers can differentiate this activity for different levels of learners by choosing which letters to use in the activity.

The Foundation for Teaching Economics is pleased to make available to teachers the content outlines, classroom activities, and teacher materials (demonstration videos and lecture presentations) for each of our residential, one-day, and online curricula. Each curriculum topic link on the left connects you to an overview and table of contents. From there, you may: browse the lessons as web pages; access download links for lessons as editable word documents; use live source links to update statistical data; print instructions and student handouts for classroom activities; and, review and prepare for your classroom by reviewing activity videos and powerpoint lectures.

This curriculum kit helps to teach about the role of media in 28 U.S. elections ranging from 1800-2008. Over 160 media documents are included for decoding, including slides of posters, handbills and political cartoons; audio clips of songs and radio programs; and video clips of speeches, debates, comedy TV and political commercials. Students will learn how to analyze historical documents, the history of presidential campaigns, the crafting and marketing of campaign messages, and the impact of new technologies and new media on presidential campaigns.

This collection uses primary sources to explore the New Deal. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.

This site presents thousands of images of items selected from the Federal Theatre Project, established during the first term of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Featured here are stage and costume designs, still photographs, posters, scripts and administrative documents.

The New Deal and World War II unit features lessons ranging from Social Security to the dropping of the atomic bomb. It includes a Structured Academic Controversy examining whether the New Deal was a success, and an Inquiry into Japanese-Americans internment during the war. In the Social Security lesson plan, students evaluate historical claims and examine primary documents from the period. Students explore causes of the Zoot Suit Riots in California, and take part in a structured role-play where groups are asked to choose an image that commemorates the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This seminar aims to develop a teaching knowledge of the field through extensive reading and discussion of major works. The reading covers a broad range of topics - political, economic, social, and cultural - and represents a variety of historical methods.

 U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.Senior Contributing AuthorsP. Scott Corbett, Ventura CollegeVolker Janssen, California State University, FullertonJohn M. Lund, Keene State CollegeTodd Pfannestiel, Clarion UniversityPaul Vickery, Oral Roberts UniversitySylvie Waskiewicz

By the end of this section, you should be able to:Describe the events of the 1932 presidential election and identify the characteristics that made Franklin Roosevelt a desirable candidateExplain why Congress amended the U.S. Constitution to reduce the period of time between presidential elections and inaugurations