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Lesson

Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Great Depression

Duration
50 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Jun 25, 2021
Franklin D Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover in Washington DC Transfer of Power
Perhaps no two Presidents in American history had such radically different views about the constitutional powers of the federal government than Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Hoover believed in a limited federal power whose chief purpose was to foster individual liberty and responsibility, while Roosevelt believed that the federal government had broad powers to promote the general welfare. Each President drew upon his views of federal power in his approaches to solving the problems posed by the Great Depression. In this lesson, students will examine the public speeches of each man to better understand their views of the primary purposes and powers of the federal government, a debate which continues today.

Guiding Question:

  • How did Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt differ in their understanding of the federal government’s power “to promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty”?

Objectives:

Students will:

  • Understand the different approaches taken by Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to solving the problems of the Great Depression.
  • Analyze how the public speeches of Hoover and Roosevelt reflected their different views of the primary purposes and powers of the federal government.
  • Evaluate to what extent the beliefs and actions of Hoover and Roosevelt were consistent with key constitutional principles.

Materials

  • Handout A: Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Great Depression
  • Handout B: Excerpts from Hoover and Roosevelt Speeches
  • To create a context for this lesson,
    students complete Constitutional
    Connection: The President and
    Federal Power.Handout C: The Purposes of the Federal Government

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Great Depression
ActivityHandout B: Excerpts from Hoover and Roosevelt Speeches
ActivityHandout C: The Purposes of the Federal Government
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Lesson plan

50 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

To create a context for this lesson, have students complete Constitutional Connection: The President and Federal Power.

Standards

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →

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