The Great Society: Extending the New Deal?
Summary:
In this lesson, students analyze historical information to compare and contrast the New Deal and the Great Society.
Rationale:
The New Deal and the Great Society were eras when Congress passed legislation that had significant economic and social impact on America. In this lesson, students learn about the Great Society by analyzing if it extended the New Deal in time by continuing programs in the same spirit (for example, by creating programs to sponsor regional development) or extended its scope by addressing additional national issues, such as civil rights.
Guiding Question:
Did the Great Society extend the New Deal?
Material:
Grade Level:
8 – 12
Time Required:
(2) 45-minute periods
Learning Activities:
- Copy and distribute Worksheet 1. Instruct the students to work individually to read both summaries and complete the review questions at the end.
- Copy and distribute Worksheet 2. Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to work collaboratively complete Worksheet 2.
- Copy and distribute Worksheet 3. Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to work collaboratively complete Worksheet 3.
- Copy and distribute Worksheet 4. Instruct the students to work individually to complete Worksheet 4.
- Copy and distribute Worksheet 5. Instruct the students to work in the small groups formed earlier. Instruct each small group to select one of the first three questions on the sheet to answer collaboratively and prepare to share their findings with the whole class.
- When the students have shared their findings on the first three questions of Worksheet 5, instruct the students to work individually to answer question 4 on Worksheet 5.
Additional Resources:
Launching the New Deal: FDR and Congress Respond to the Great Depression: This lesson introduces the New Deal by examining how President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress responded to the Great Depression, and how the role of the Federal government changed as a result.
The Great Society Congress, a website on Great Society legislation
If you have problems viewing this page, please contact legislative.archives@nara.gov.