Bread Lines and Soup Kitchens

Witnessing the Great Depression
Bread Lines
and
Soup Kitchens
Witnessing the Great Depression
Foreclosure
and
Eviction
Witnessing the Great Depression
Shantytowns
and
Hoovervilles
Witnessing the Great Depression
Unemployed
and
Homeless
Witnessing the Great Depression
Hobos
Riding the
Rails
Witnessing the Great Depression
The Dust Bowl
Witnessing the Great Depression
Dorothea Lange
• Born in Hoboken, NJ
• Daughter of German
Immigrants
• American Photojournalist
Best Known For
Depression Era
Photography
Visit
The History Place:
Dorothea Lange
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/lange/
Witnessing the Great Depression
The History Place: Dorothea Lange
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/lange/
Assignment
1. Pick one of the fourteen groups
of photographs to analyze.
2. Analyze the three photographs in
Analysis
• Utilize the following format when
analyzing each photograph:
Photo Series: Title of the Group
the group you chose using the
Author: Name of Photographer
proper primary source format.
Place: Location where photo was taken
3. Identify at least four important
details from each photograph
dealing with life during the Great
Depression.
Period: Date or Time Period
Audience: Who was photo intended for
Reason: Why was the photo taken
Topic: What was the Main Idea
Significance: List 4 Important Details
Witnessing the Great Depression
Letters and Interviews
Chicago, Illinois
Feb, 1936
Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt:
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President
I ‘m a boy of twelve years. I want to tell you about my family. My father hasn’t worked for
5 months. He went plenty times to relief, he filled out application. They won’t give us anything. I don’t
know why. Please you do something. We haven’t paid 4 months rent. Everyday the landlord rings the
door bell, we don’t open the door for him. We are afraid that will be put out, been put out before, and
don’t want to happen again. We haven’t paid the gas bill, and the electric bill, haven’t paid the grocery
bill for 3 months. My brother goes to Lane Tech. High School, he’s eighteen years old. He hasn’t gone
to school for 2 weeks because he got no car fare. I have a sister she’s twenty years, she can’t find
work. My father he staying home. All the time he’s crying because he can’t find work. I told him why
are you crying daddy, and daddy said why shouldn’t I cry when there is nothing in the house. I feel
sorry for him. That night I couldn’t sleep. The next morning I wrote this letter to you in my room.
Were American citizens and were born in Chicago Ill and I don’t know why they don’t help us. Please
answer right away because we need it. Will Starve. Thank You.
Witnessing the Great Depression
Letters from the Great Depression
Assignment
1. Students will be place in groups
of 3 – 4 students each.
2. Each student will receive a
different packet of letters.
3. Each student will analyze their
letters using the proper format.
4. After completing their analysis,
Students will answer the Lesson
summarizing questions provided.
Analysis
• Utilize the following format when
analyzing each letter:
Source Letter: Title or Type of Letter
Author: Name/Occupation of Writer
Place: Location where letter came from
Period: Date or Time Period
Audience: Who was letter for
Reason: Why was the letter written
Topic: What was the Main Idea
Significance: List 4 Important Details
Witnessing the Great Depression
Lesson Summarizing Questions
1. Why did people write so many letters in the 1930’s?
2. Why did people write to their Governor or the First Lady?
3. How did the appeals to the Governors differ from those to the First Lady?
4. How did older adults view the Great Depression differently than younger
adults?
5. How did children view and experience the Great Depression differently?
6. Why might a young person’s request for help receive more sympathy than
an adult’s request?
7. How do these letters validate the idea that everyone was “In the Same
Boat” during the Great Depression?