NY Social Studies 8.5c

Social Studies8th GradeKey Idea 8.5

The Standard

President Roosevelt issued the New Deal in an attempt to revive the economy and help Americans deal with the hardships of the Great Depression. These New Deal reforms had a long-lasting effect on the role of government in American society and its economic life, but did not resolve all of the hardships Americans faced.

New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework

Key Idea 8.5

GREAT DEPRESSION: Economic and environmental disasters in the 1930s created hardships for many Americans. Amidst much debate about the appropriate role of government, President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped to create intensive government interventions in the United States economy and society.

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how the FDIC, SEC, and Social Security addressed different economic problems. They connect each program to a larger federal role in banking, investing, and personal security. They also explain why these reforms did not end every hardship.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can match each program to its purpose and describe who it helped. They can use evidence to explain one lasting change and one limit of the New Deal.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think every New Deal program gave direct cash to unemployed people. They may claim the New Deal ended the Great Depression. They may overlook groups initially excluded from Social Security, including many farm and domestic workers.
How to Assess It: Give an exit ticket asking students to choose the FDIC, SEC, or Social Security and state its purpose, lasting effect, and one limitation.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Have groups sort FDIC, SEC, and Social Security source cards by problem, government action, and intended beneficiary.
Ask students to write: Which program most changed the federal government's responsibility for economic security, and why?
Play a matching game using program cards and scenario cards about bank failures, stock fraud, retirement and unemployment.
Students examine an FDIC bank sign, investment disclosure, and pay stub to find evidence of New Deal programs still operating today.

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