Discussion Question
July 25, 2013
You need to be certain when answering questions that you apply specific
examples and details from the readings!
- On which group do you feel that the Depression had the greatest impact
(ie women, children, the working class, the unemployed, etc)? On what
would you base your argument?
- What do the letters to Eleanor Roosevelt tell us about the impact of
the Depression on children and families? As a source, what limitations
and/or assets do the letters have and how would you use them for research?
- Who would be considered "marginal" Americans and what was the
impact of the Depression on them?
- In the report to Mr. Hopkins in 1934, what was the reaction of
"ordinary" people to the depression? What was the mood of the people,
according to the report? What is the importance of such a source and how
could/should such a source be used?
- How does the report by Hopkins agree or disagree
with the other readings about the problems and responses of rural America? (ie
Like a Thick Wall, Losing the Business, the McElvaine letters, etc.)
- What in your opinion is the most important detail contained in
Hopkin's report? Does the author have an
overall point or purpose to her report?
- What were the specific problems of the agricultural
sector? What was being done by the government to address those problems,
and what were the people themselves doing to solve their problems?
- Of the letters from the McElvaine book, which for
you provides the most important insights into the depression?
What in particular did you learn from it?