NAMESCHOOL
IndevelopingyouranswertoPartIII,besuretokeepthesegeneraldefinitionsinmind:
(a)discussmeans“tomakeobservationsaboutsomethingusingfacts,reasoning,and
argument;topresentinsomedetail”
(b)explainmeans“tomakeplainorunderstandable;togivereasonsfororcausesof;to
showthelogicaldevelopmentorrelationshipsof”
PARTIII
DOCUMENT-BASEDQUESTION
Thisquestionisbasedontheaccompanyingdocuments.Itisdesignedtotestyourabilitytowork
withhistoricaldocuments.Someofthedocumentshavebeeneditedforthepurposesofthe
question.Asyouanalyzethedocuments,takeintoaccountboththesourceofeachdocumentand
anypointofviewthatmaybepresentedinthedocument.
HistoricalContext:
Afterthecrashofthestockmarketin1929,theGreatDepressionbegan.The
DepressionbroughtdevastationtotheeconomyoftheUnitedStatesandresulted
insevereproblemsfortheAmericanpeople.Throughoutthe1930s,theAmerican
peopleandthegovernmentdealtwiththeDepressioninvariousways.
Task:UsinginformationfromthedocumentsandyourknowledgeofUnitedStates
history,answerthequestionsthatfolloweachdocumentinPartA.Youranswersto
thequestionswillhelpyouwritethePartBessay,inwhichyouwillbeaskedto
·DiscussproblemsfacedbytheAmericanpeopleduringtheGreatDepression
ofthe1930s
·ExplainhowtheAmericanpeopleandthegovernmentdealtwiththeproblems
oftheDepression
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[14]
PartA
Short-AnswerQuestions
Directions:Analyzethedocumentsandanswertheshort-answerquestionsthatfolloweachdocumentinthe
spaceprovided.
Document1
...ThisisnotanissueastowhetherthepeoplearegoinghungryorcoldintheUnitedStates.
Itissolelyaquestionofthebestmethodbywhichhungerandcoldcanbeprevented.Itisa
questionastowhethertheAmericanpeopleontheonehandwillmaintainthespiritofcharity
andofmutualself-helpthroughvoluntarygivingandtheresponsibilityoflocalgovernmentas
distinguishedontheotherhandfromappropriationsoutoftheFederalTreasuryforsuch
purposes.Myownconvictionisstronglythatifwebreakdownthissenseofresponsibility,of
individualgenerositytoindividual,andmutualself-helpinthecountryintimesofnational
difficultyandifwestartappropriationsofthischaracterwehavenotonlyimpairedsomething
infinitelyvaluableinthelifeoftheAmericanpeoplebuthavestruckattherootsofself-
government.Oncethishashappeneditisnotthecostofafewscoremillions,butwearefaced
withtheabyssofreliance[trapofrelying]in[the]futureuponGovernmentcharityinsomeform
orother.ThemoneyinvolvedisindeedtheleastofthecoststoAmericanidealsandAmerican
institutions....
Source:PresidentHerbertHoover,PressStatement,February3,1931
1Accordingtothisdocument,howdidPresidentHooverhopetheAmericanpeoplewouldrespondtothe
problemsoftheDepression?[1]
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[15][OVER]
Document2
...Kentuckycoalminerssufferedperhapsthemost.InHarlanCountytherewerewholetowns
whosepeoplehadnotacentofincome.Theylivedondandelionsandblackberries.Thewomen
washedclothesinsoapweedsuds.Dysenterybloatedthestomachsofstarvingbabies.Children
werereportedsofamishedtheywerechewinguptheirownhands.Minerstriedtoplant
vegetables,buttheywereoftensohungrythattheyatethembeforetheywereripe.Onherfirst
triptothemountains,EleanorRooseveltsawalittleboytryingtohidehispetrabbit.“Hethinks
wearenotgoingtoeatit,”hissistertoldher,“butweare.”InWestVirginia,minersmobbed
companystoresdemandingfood.Mountainpeople,withnomeanstoleavetheirhomes,
sometimeshadtoburntheirlastchairsandtablestokeepwarm.Localcharitycouldnothelp
inaplacewhereeveryonewasdestitute....
“Noonehasstarved,”Hooverboasted.Toproveit,heannouncedadeclineinthedeathrate.It
washeartening,butpuzzling,too.Eventhesocialworkerscouldnotseehowtheunemployed
keptbodyandsoultogether,andthemoretheystudied,themorethewondergrew.Savings,if
any,wentfirst.Theninsurancewascashed.Thenpeopleborrowedfromfamilyandfriends.
Theystoppedpayingrent.Whenevicted,theymovedinwithrelatives.Theyranupbills.It
wassurprisinghowmuchcreditcouldbewangled.In1932,about400familiesonreliefin
Philadelphiahadmanagedtocontractanaveragedebtof$160,atributetotheheartsifnotthe
businessheadsoflandlordsandmerchants.Butintheendtheyhadtoeat“tight.”...
Ateacherinamountainschooltoldalittlegirlwholookedsickbutsaidshewashungrytogo
homeandeatsomething.“Ican’t,”theyoungstersaid.“It’smysister’sturntoeat.”InChicago,
teacherswereorderedtoaskwhatachildhadhadtoeatbeforepunishinghim.Manyofthem
weregettingnothingbutpotatoes,adietthatkepttheirweightup,butleftthemlistless,
crotchety[cranky],andsleepy....
Source:CarolineBird,TheInvisibleScar,DavidMcKayCompany
2StatetwowaysthefamiliesdescribedinthispassagedealtwiththeproblemsoftheDepression.[2]
(1)______
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(2)______
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U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[16]
Document3
Source:H.W.Felchner,NewYorkCity,February,1932
3Basedonthephotograph,stateoneeffecttheGreatDepressionhadonmanyAmericans.[1]
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[17][OVER]
Document4
...BrigadesofBonusMarchersconvergedonWashington[in1932].Congresshadvotedthe
bonusmoney,butforlater.Someofthesemenmighthavebeenhustlersandperhapstherewere
afewCommunistsamongthem,butmostwereex-soldierswhohadservedthenation[inWorld
WarI],frightenedmenwithhungryfamilies.Theraggedhordesblockedtraffic,clunglike
swarmingbeestothestepsoftheCapitol.Theyneededtheirmoneynow.Theybuiltashacktown
ontheedgeofWashington.Manyhadbroughttheirwivesandchildren.Contemporaryreports
mentiontheorderlinessanddisciplineofthesesoldiersofmisfortune....
Source:JohnSteinbeck,“LivingWithHardTimes,”Esquire
4Basedonthisdocument,statethereasontheBonusMarcherswenttoWashington.[1]
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Score
Document5
...Workingwomenatfirstlosttheirjobsatafasterratethanmen—thenreenteredthe
workforcemorerapidly.IntheearlyyearsoftheDepression,manyemployers,includingthe
federalgovernment,triedtospreadwhatemploymenttheyhadtoheadsofhouseholds.That
meantfiringanymarriedwomanidentifiedasafamily’s“secondary”wage-earner.Butthe
gendersegregationinemploymentpatternsthatwasalreadywellestablishedbeforethe
Depressionalsoworkedtowomen’sadvantage. Heavyindustrysufferedtheworst
unemployment,butrelativelyfewwomenstokedblastfurnacesinthesteelmillsordrilledrivets
onassemblylinesorswunghammersinthebuildingtrades.Theteachingprofession,however,
inwhichwomenwerehighlyconcentratedandindeedconstitutedaheftymajorityofemployees,
sufferedpaycutsbutonlyminimaljoblosses.Andtheunderlyingtrendsoftheeconomymeant
thatwhatnewjobsdidbecomeavailableinthe1930s,suchastelephoneswitchboardoperation
andclericalwork,werepeculiarlysuitedtowomen....
Source:DavidM.Kennedy,FreedomFromFear,OxfordUniversityPress
5Basedonthisdocument,statetwowayswomeninthelaborforcewereaffectedbytheGreatDepression.[2]
(1)______
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Score
(2)______
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[18]
Document6
...Forblackpeople,theNewDealwaspsychologicallyencouraging(Mrs.Rooseveltwas
sympathetic;someblacksgotpostsintheadministration),butmostblackswereignoredbythe
NewDealprograms.Astenantfarmers,asfarmlaborers,asmigrants,asdomesticworkers,they
didn’tqualifyforunemploymentinsurance,minimumwages,socialsecurity,orfarmsubsidies.
Roosevelt,carefulnottooffendsouthernwhitepoliticianswhosepoliticalsupportheneeded,
didnotpushabillagainstlynching.Blacksandwhitesweresegregatedinthearmedforces.And
blackworkerswerediscriminatedagainstingettingjobs.Theywerethelasthired,thefirstfired.
OnlywhenA.PhilipRandolph,headoftheSleeping-CarPortersUnion,threatenedamassive
marchonWashingtonin1941wouldRooseveltagreetosignanexecutiveorderestablishinga
FairEmploymentPracticesCommittee.ButtheFEPChadnoenforcementpowersand
changedlittle....
Source:HowardZinn,APeople’sHistoryoftheUnitedStates,HarperCollinsPublishers
6aBasedonthisdocument,stateonereasonmanyAfricanAmericansdidnotbenefitfromNewDeal
programs.[1]
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Score
bAccordingtothisdocument,howdidthegovernmentrespondtothethreatfromtheSleeping-CarPorters
Union?[1]
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[19][OVER]
Document7
...SuddenlythepaperswerefilledwithaccountsofhighwaypicketingbyfarmersaroundSioux
City.AFarmers’HolidayAssociationhadbeenorganizedbyoneMiloReno,andthefarmers
weretorefusetobringfoodtomarketforthirtydaysor“untilthecostofproductionhadbeen
obtained.”...
ThestrikearoundSiouxCitysoonceasedtobealocalmatter.ItjumpedtheMissouriRiverand
crossedtheBigSioux.RoadswerepicketedinSouthDakotaandNebraskaaswellasinIowa.
SoonMinnesotafollowedsuit,andherfarmerspicketedherroads.NorthDakotaorganized.
DowninGeorgiafarmersdumpedmilkonthehighway.ForafewdaysthemilksupplyofNew
YorkCitywasmenaced.FarmersinBucksCounty,Pennsylvania,organized,andpotatofarmers
inLongIslandraisedthepriceofpotatoesbya“holiday.”Thisbandingtogetheroffarmersfor
mutualprotectionisgoingoneverywhere,butthecenterofthisdisturbanceisstillIowaandthe
neighboringStates.
TheMilkProducers’AssociationjoinedforceswiththeFarmers’Holiday.Alltheroadsleading
toSiouxCitywerepicketed.Trucksbyhundredswereturnedback.Farmersbyhundredslined
theroads.Theyblockadedtheroadswithspikedtelegraphpolesandlogs.Theytookawaya
sheriff’sbadgeandhisgunandthrewtheminacornfield.Gallonsofmilkrandownroadway
ditches.GallonsofconfiscatedmilkweredistributedfreeonthestreetsofSiouxCity....
Source:MaryHeatonVorse,“RebellionintheCornbelt,”Harper’sMagazine,December1932
7Basedonthisdocument,statetwoactionstakenbyfarmerstodealwiththeireconomicsituationduringthe
GreatDepression.[2]
(1)______
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Score
(2)______
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[20]
Document8
LorenaHickok,aformerAssociatedPressreporter,washiredbyHarryHopkins(headoftheFederal
EmergencyReliefAdministration)totravelthroughouttheUnitedStatesandsendHopkinsprivatereportson
thestateofthenationandeffectsoftheNewDealprograms.Thisisanexcerptfromoneofthosereports,dated
January1,1935.
...Onlyamongtheyoungisthereevidenceofrevolt,apparently.Theseyoungpeopleare
growingrestive[restless].Outofsome15weeklyreportsfromindustrialcentersalloverthe
country,hardlyoneomittedaparagraphpointingoutthattheseyoungpeoplemaynottolerate
muchlongeraconditionthatpreventsthemfromstartingnormal,active,self-respectinglives,
thatwillnotletthemmarryandraisefamilies,thatcondemnsthemtoidlenessandwant.At
presentthereisnoleadershipamongthem.Collegemenareshovelingsand,checkingfreight
cars,workinginfillingstations.Highschoolgraduatesareofferingthemselvestoindustry“for
nothing,justexperience”—andarebeingaccepted.Boyswhonormallywouldbeapprenticesin
thetradesaretramping[wandering]thepavements,ridingthefreightsbackandforthacrossthe
country,hangingaboutonstreetcorners.OnedayinNovembera21-year-oldboyinBaltimore
walked20miles,lookingforwork.“Ijuststoppedateveryplace,”hesaid,“butmostlythey
wouldn’teventalktome.”...
Source:LowittandBeasley,eds.,OneThirdofaNation,UniversityofIllinoisPress,1981
8Basedonthisdocument,stateonewaytheGreatDepressionaffectedyoungpeople.[1]
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Score
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[21][OVER]
PartB
Essay
Directions:Writeawell-organizedessaythatincludesanintroduction,severalparagraphs,andaconclusion.
Useevidencefromatleastfivedocumentsinthebodyoftheessay.Supportyourresponsewith
relevantfacts,examples,anddetails.Includeadditionaloutsideinformation.
HistoricalContext:
Afterthecrashofthestockmarketin1929,theGreatDepressionbegan.The
DepressionbroughtdevastationtotheeconomyoftheUnitedStatesandresulted
insevereproblemsfortheAmericanpeople.Throughoutthe1930s,theAmerican
peopleandthegovernmentdealtwiththeDepressioninvariousways.
Task:UsinginformationfromthedocumentsandyourknowledgeofUnitedStates
history,writeanessayinwhichyou
·DiscussproblemsfacedbytheAmericanpeopleduringtheGreatDepression
ofthe1930s
·ExplainhowtheAmericanpeopleandthegovernmentdealtwiththeproblems
oftheDepression
Guidelines:
Inyouressay,besureto:
·Developallaspectsofthetask
·Incorporateinformationfromatleastfivedocuments
·Incorporaterelevantoutsideinformation
·Supportthethemewithrelevantfacts,examples,anddetails
·Usealogicalandclearplanoforganization,includinganintroductionandaconclusionthat
arebeyondarestatementofthetheme
U.S.Hist.Gov’t.–Aug.’05[22]