The Great Depression and Of Mice and Men
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
Make connections among the documents to experience the emotions and events of the Great Depression. Answer questions to make connections in the boxes.Name:
Class:
Class:
Worksheet
The Great Depression and Of Mice and Men
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.
Record your observations about the first two pictures. What is going on? How do you think people are feeling? Who is in the pictures?
Enter your response
Compare these pictures to the first set. Think about how they are similar and different. Who is in these pictures? Are the emotions of the men similar or different?
Enter your response
Compare and contrast the experience of the Great Depression for men, women, and children based on the evidence here.
Enter your response
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Conclusion
The Great Depression and Of Mice and Men
Making Connections
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a book about two men who travel together to look for work during The Great Depression. Based on the evidence given, what conclusions can you draw about how these two men feel and what they must be thinking about on their journey? Why might they travel together when it would be easier to find work alone?Your Response
Document
Depression: Unemployed: the Unemployed Union: Marchers south on Broadway: Camden New Jersey typical scene reflecting large population of unemployed in desperate need of work and looking for jobs
ca. 1935
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
Unemployed workers held demonstrations in the streets to show they were willing and able to work. All they needed were jobs.
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195658
Full Citation: Depression: Unemployed: the Unemployed Union: Marchers south on Broadway: Camden New Jersey typical scene reflecting large population of unemployed in desperate need of work and looking for jobs; ca. 1935; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/depression-unemployed-the-unemployed-union-marchers-south-on-broadway-camden-new-jersey-typical-scene-reflecting-large-population-of-unemployed-in-desperate-need-of-work-and-looking-for-jobs, May 4, 2024]Depression: Unemployed: the Unemployed Union: Marchers south on Broadway: Camden New Jersey typical scene reflecting large population of unemployed in desperate need of work and looking for jobs
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Document
Photograph of Anxious Depositors
2/28/1933
The original caption for this photograph reads: Crowds of depositors gathered outside of the banks after Clearing House Association announced withdrawals would be limited to five per cent of deposits. The crowd shown above is gathered in front of the Guardian Trust Company and National City Bank. The imposition of the withdrawal rule, which is for an indefinite period, followed steady runs on the banks as a result of the moratorium declared a week ago in Michigan.
Some of the most harrowing moments of the Great Depression came in the final weeks of President Herbert Hoover’s administration with the collapse of the nation’s banking system in February 1933. The imminent failure of two large banks in Michigan prompted that state’s governor to declare a "banking holiday" on February 14, setting off a panic that soon infected the entire nation. During the last two weeks of Hoover’s Presidency (Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office on March 4), more than $1.2 billion was taken out of the nation’s banks to be stored in mattresses, shoeboxes, and other hiding places believed to be more secure than the country’s financial institutions.
Some of the most harrowing moments of the Great Depression came in the final weeks of President Herbert Hoover’s administration with the collapse of the nation’s banking system in February 1933. The imminent failure of two large banks in Michigan prompted that state’s governor to declare a "banking holiday" on February 14, setting off a panic that soon infected the entire nation. During the last two weeks of Hoover’s Presidency (Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office on March 4), more than $1.2 billion was taken out of the nation’s banks to be stored in mattresses, shoeboxes, and other hiding places believed to be more secure than the country’s financial institutions.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Information Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 849137
Full Citation: Photograph 306-NT-443H-1; Photograph of Anxious Depositors; 2/28/1933; Photographic File of the Paris Bureau of the New York Times, ca. 1900 - ca. 1950; Records of the U.S. Information Agency, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/anxious-depositors, May 4, 2024]Photograph of Anxious Depositors
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Document
Soup Kitchen During the Depression
6/1936
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-Photos: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 196174
Full Citation: Soup Kitchen During the Depression; 6/1936; Collection FDR-Photos: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Photographs, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/soup-kitchen-depression, May 4, 2024]Soup Kitchen During the Depression
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Document
Unemployed, Destitute Man Leaning Against Vacant Store: Photo by Dorothea Lange
ca. 1935
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195825
Full Citation: Unemployed, Destitute Man Leaning Against Vacant Store: Photo by Dorothea Lange; ca. 1935; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/unemployed-destitute-man-leaning-against-vacant-store-photo-by-dorothea-lange, May 4, 2024]Unemployed, Destitute Man Leaning Against Vacant Store: Photo by Dorothea Lange
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Document
Civilian Conservation Corps enrollee engaged in tree planting- part of the reforestation program caried on by the Corps
ca. 1933
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195827
Full Citation: Civilian Conservation Corps enrollee engaged in tree planting- part of the reforestation program caried on by the Corps; ca. 1933; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/civilian-conservation-corps-enrollee-engaged-in-tree-planting-part-of-the-reforestation-program-caried-on-by-the-corps, May 4, 2024]Civilian Conservation Corps enrollee engaged in tree planting- part of the reforestation program caried on by the Corps
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Document
Letter from L. L. Day and Others to the Honorable James A. Farley
8/2/1934
This letter is a request for all females employed in the Transient Bureaus to be dismissed and replaced with men.
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
1934 found this country in the middle of the Great Depression. The competition for jobs was so fierce that some demanded women leave their jobs so that unemployed men could work. The writers of this letter, like people everywhere, were desperate.
This primary source comes from the Records of the National Recovery Administration.
National Archives Identifier: 594990
Full Citation: Letter from L. L. Day and Others to the Honorable James A. Farley; 8/2/1934; Records of the National Recovery Administration, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-l-l-day-and-others-to-the-honorable-james-a-farley, May 4, 2024]Letter from L. L. Day and Others to the Honorable James A. Farley
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Photographs of Arvin Camp parents with children, who are having height and weight measured
9/1936
This primary source comes from the Records of the Farmers Home Administration.
National Archives Identifier: 296527
Full Citation: Photographs of Arvin Camp parents with children, who are having height and weight measured; 9/1936; Records of the Farmers Home Administration, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/photographs-of-arvin-camp-parents-with-children-who-are-having-height-and-weight-measured, May 4, 2024]Photographs of Arvin Camp parents with children, who are having height and weight measured
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Photographs of Arvin Camp parents with children, who are having height and weight measured
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Document
Millville, New Jersey - Dresses. Second view of the Western Dress Factory. Emphasis on general conditions in the working room
1936 - 1937
This image comes from a series of photographs taken by Lewis Hine for the National Research Project (NRP). The original caption reads: Millville, New Jersey - Dresses. Second view of the Western Dress Factory. Emphasis on general conditions in the working room.
The NRP was organized in December 1935 as part of the National Research Program of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Its purpose was to investigate recent changes in industrial techniques and evaluate their effects on employment.
Between 1937 and 1941, the NRP published more than 700 reports on a broad variety of agricultural, manufacturing and mining activities. In late 1936, the distinguished documentary photographer Lewis Hine was hired as chief photographer. Hine made photo studies in 14 industrial communities from December 1936 to July 1937. He captured general views of the community, working conditions in factories, machinery, and workers for each photo study.
The NRP was organized in December 1935 as part of the National Research Program of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Its purpose was to investigate recent changes in industrial techniques and evaluate their effects on employment.
Between 1937 and 1941, the NRP published more than 700 reports on a broad variety of agricultural, manufacturing and mining activities. In late 1936, the distinguished documentary photographer Lewis Hine was hired as chief photographer. Hine made photo studies in 14 industrial communities from December 1936 to July 1937. He captured general views of the community, working conditions in factories, machinery, and workers for each photo study.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Work Projects Administration.
National Archives Identifier: 518630
Full Citation: Photograph 69-RP-403; Millville, New Jersey - Dresses. Second view of the Western Dress Factory. Emphasis on general conditions in the working room; 1936 - 1937; Lewis Hine Photographs for the National Research Project, 1936 - 1937; Records of the Work Projects Administration, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/western-dress-factory, May 4, 2024]Millville, New Jersey - Dresses. Second view of the Western Dress Factory. Emphasis on general conditions in the working room
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