Oklahoma Social Studies USH.C.4.3.A

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Content Standards

The Standard

USH.C.4: Analyze the cycles of economic boom and bust of the 1920s and 1930s on the transformation of the United States of America’s government and society.
USH.C.4.3: Analyze the impact of the New Deal in addressing the challenges of the Great Depression by transforming the federal government’s role in domestic economic policies.

Assess changing viewpoints regarding the expanding role of government as expressed in President Franklin Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · USH.C.4.3

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Read Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address for his proposals on jobs, banks, and emergency powers. Explain why the Depression led him to argue for more federal action, and why some Americans might disagree.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use lines from the speech to explain Roosevelt’s case for federal jobs and stronger presidential action. They can describe both support for that approach and concern about giving the president more power.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think Roosevelt wanted to end private business, rather than use federal action to address a crisis. They may mistake his request for emergency powers for a law Congress had already passed.
How to Assess It: Give students the paragraph beginning “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work.” Ask them to name the federal responsibility Roosevelt proposes and give one reason someone might oppose it.

Lesson moves

Give pairs printed excerpts about jobs, banks, and emergency powers; have them sort the excerpts by proposed federal action and explain two choices.
Ask: Which line best explains why Americans might welcome more federal action in 1933, and which line might worry them?
Play a claim-and-evidence match with cards showing Roosevelt’s proposals and speech excerpts; students find one mismatched pair and explain it.
Print a FEMA disaster assistance flyer; have students compare its offered aid with Roosevelt’s proposal for government jobs.

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