Mr. Roosevelt Comes to Champaign County:
An Examination of the New Deal

Marshall Schacht (St. Joseph-Ogden High School)
Fellowship Summer 2009
Champaign County Historical Archives

To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.

Lesson 2: Let’s Make a Deal

Day 1: Now that the students have a concept of why FDR was chosen and how the public perceived him, students will work collectively to design a “New Deal”.

See “Let’s Make a Deal” Worksheet

Immediate Economic Problems RELIEF Programs

Intermediate Economic Weaknesses RECOVERY Programs

Long Term Economic Concerns REFORM Programs

Students will also be asked about how the programs will be funded. This is a good time to introduce the concept of deficit spending and the current debate regarding the fiscal (ir)responsibility of local, state and national governments.

Students begin by brainstorming in small groups to develop lists of problems facing FDR as he entered the White House. They will consider problems on a national, state and local level.

Once the problems are assessed, student groups will come up with immediate responses to urgent crises and long term solutions to address the causes.

Day 2: Students will share their ideas with the class and debate the merits of each program. As the class’s “New Deal” takes shape, it is recorded for comparison to FDR’s measures.

See “Let’s Make a Deal” Worksheet (page 2) –Venn Diagram allowing for visual comparisons between our classroom New Deal and FDR’s plan.

Enrichment: Students can actually read the relevant section of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933. While a challenging read, it does give the students a perspective of the entirety of FDR’s focus and how legislation would reflect his intentions.

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=66&page=transcript (entire document)

Title II: Public Works and Construction Projects (section specific to this unit)

For homework, students will do background reading about the New Deal and the legacy that lives regarding local projects.

(More in depth)
“Initial Relief” from Champaign-Urbana News Gazette February 16, 1989 (Part I, Part II)

(Direct and to the point)
“FDR’s Legacy endures in local sites” from Champaign-Urbana News Gazette May 2, 1997 (Part I, Part II)

Students will write a short essay including the following:

· What were three New Deal programs that conducted projects in Champaign County?

· What were some of the projects that were completed that are standing today?

· How do those workers recall the experience working for the WPA and others?