The School Lunch Program and the Federal Government

Photograph Analysis

Analyze the first three photographs and place your answers in the next available text box.

• How are they connected?
• How can increased food production contribute to farm foreclosures?
• What event in United States History does the event in the third photograph reflect?
• Why is it ironic that farmers were able to grow more food, but there were farm foreclosures and people in cities who were starving?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Great Depression

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in the midst of the Great Depression. He realized changes had to happen immediately to assist the American people.

Analyze the next three documents. Read carefully pages 5 and 6 of F.D.R.'s Fireside Chat on the purposes and foundations for the National Recovery Act, looking specifically at the information related to farmers in the United States. Analyze the the two photographs in the group.

• Based on your findings, what are possible solutions to the overproduction of crops?

Document Analysis

Examine the next three documents.

• Who were the recipients of surplus agricultural products?

Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation

The Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation purchased surplus commodities such as pork, dairy products, and wheat and made them available to schoolchildren who could not afford to pay for lunches and needed nutritional food.

By 1942, the peak year, more than 5 million children participated in the school lunch program. The legislation for the school lunch program was not permanent.

Analyze the next two documents.

• What happened to the School Lunch program?

Document Analysis

Examine the last two documents.

• Does the school lunch program still exist?
• How has it changed? How has it stayed the same?
• How did increased agricultural production and the Great Depression contribute to the School Lunch program?