Depression Recession: Then & Now

Depression //Recession 1

Depression // Recession: Then & Now

Team #__

First Last [Student name(s)]

Mark Keppel High School

United States History and Geography: Continuity & Change in the 20th Century

Mr. Tran, MA Ed.

March 09, 2012 Depression //Recession 2 Depression // Recession: Then & Now

The purpose of this paper is to: (a) analyze the causes and effects of the Great Depression of the 1930s; (b) highlight a key figure during the Depression; (c) compare and contrast the Great

Depression with the Great Recession of 2008; and (d) reflect (on a personal level) the effects of the current Great Recession (Danzer et al., 1999). [This is the introduction. Use the first sentence as directed. Write 5-7 more sentences in the introduction to your paper. For each paragraph in this paper, provide at least one in-text citation (paraphrase or quotes/APA). Provide the full citations of your sources on the References Page at the end.]

Causes of the Great Depression

The Great Depression was due a combination of factors including: (a) a stock-based economy that perpetuated a superficial prosperity; (b) an unequal distribution of income; (c) problems in industry and the farm sector; (d) increasing consumer debt; and (e) stock market speculation and crash (Danzer et al., 1999). [Write 6-7 more sentences before providing a detailed explanation of the causes.]

Stock-based Economy

The economy of the 1920s was overly dependent on the stock market. Over time, this situation created an artificial prosperity where an ever-increasing percentage of wealth was invested in an unstable stock market. [Provide a detailed explanation of why each one of the following factors contributed to the Great Depression. Each section should be at least one paragraph in length.]

Unequal Distribution of Wealth Depression //Recession 3 Problem in Industry and Farm Sector

Increasing Consumer Debt

Speculation and Crash

Effects of the Great Depression

The effects of the Great Depression were: (a) massive unemployment of more than 25 percent; (b) rise of shantytowns; (c) bank and school closures; (d) worldwide economic depression; and (e) increased involvement of the federal government in managing the economy.

[Write 5-6 more sentences before providing a detailed explanation of the effects.]

Massive Unemployment

[Write a paragraph detailing/explaining this effect with respect to the Great Depression].

Shantytowns

Bank & School Closures

Increased Government Involvement in Economy

Biography: [name of person]

[Write a two page biography of a key figure during the Great Depression. Each team will select a different key figure based on the following (Hebert Hoover, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt,

Upton Sinclair, John Steinbeck, Huey Long, Dorothea Lange, Harry Hopkins, Francis Perkins,

John Maynard Keynes, Mary McLeod Bethume, John Collier, Robert F. Wagner, Grant Wood,

Richard Wright & Orson Welles). For each biography, write a one paragraph introduction before Depression //Recession 4 focusing on the person’s (a) background, (b) contributions or role during the Great Depression, and (c) legacy with respect to today.]

Background

Contribution

Legacy

The Great Recession of 2008

The Great Recession of 2008 occurred because of (a) a commodities boom, (b) the housing bubble, (c) inflation, and (d) income inequality. The effects of the current recession have been: (a) high unemployment; (b) low consumer confidence; (c) decline in home values; (d) increased foreclosures and personal bankruptcies; (e) escalating federal and state debts; (f) inflation (gas & food prices); and (g) even greater income inequality.[In this section, write three- four pages explaining the causes and effects of the current Recession.]

Commodities Boom

Housing Bubble

Inflation

Income Inequality

[Before writing about the effects of the Recession of 2008, write a transitional paragraph which links the causes and effects of the economic downturn.]

High Unemployment Depression //Recession 5 Low Consumer Confidence

Escalating Federal and State Debts

Inflation

Greater Income Inequality

Then & Now

[Write an analysis in which you compare and contrast the Great Depression and the Great

Recession of 2008. Point out similarities and explain the differences with respect to: (a) underlining causes of both periods; (b) similar effects; (c) differences; (d) federal responses in both periods; and (e) worldwide implications.

Underlining Causes

Similar Effects

Differences

Federal Responses

Worldwide Implications

Reflections on the Great Recession

[As a group, reflect in this paragraph how the Great Recession has affected your lives as young adults. Write a common paragraph before transitioning to individual reflections of how the bad economy has affected you (your family) personally.] Depression //Recession 6 First Student

Second Student

Third Student

Fourth Student

[Write a 1-2 paragraph conclusion in which you reflect on what you have learned about

American history from doing this research report (with respect to life, history, APA conventions).] Depression //Recession 7

References

Bikel, O. (Producer). (2008). Close to home. (film). Arlington, VA: PBS.

Danzer, G., Klor de Alva, J., Krieger, L., Wilson, L., & Woloch, N. (1999).

The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th century. Boston, MA: McDougal Littell.

Gazit, G. (Producer). (1998). Surviving the dustbowl. (film). Arlington, VA: PBS.

Towers, J. & Maday, C. (Producers). (2009). The great depression. (film). New York:

A&E Network.

Wikipedia. (2012). The great depression. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Depression