4-3 Project One - Writing Plan Submission - Thomas Hubert
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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200
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History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by MinisterSardine3121
Thomas Hubert
HIS 200: Applied History
Southern New Hampshire University
May 4, 2021
I. Describe the historical event that you selected. Why is this event significant?
For my historical event analysis, I have chosen the Great Depression. More specifically, I
will focus on President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” and why it wasn’t successful. The stock market
crash of 1929 set in motion a series of events leading to the Great Depression. This was an
economically tough time for the U.S.
Unemployment was at record levels, and most families
resorted to soup kitchens and bread lines for food. Jobs were hard to come by and most
businesses were shuttered. Everyone was looking for a solution to the economic crisis, but no
one could come up with one. The federal government decided to step in and attempted to
alleviate some of these problems. President Roosevelt came up with a series of programs and
projects, which he called the “New Deal”. These incentives did help, but only minimally. Some
jobs were created, but unemployment remained high. It is believed that a further increase in
federal spending would have propelled us into economic stability much sooner.
II. Describe at least two secondary sources that you could use to research your historical event.
Your sources must be relevant to your event and must be of an appropriate academic nature. In
your description, consider questions such as: What are the similarities and differences in the
content of your sources? What makes them appropriate and relevant for investigating your event?
What was your thought process when you were searching for sources? How did you make
choices?
Some secondary sources would be books written by historians. I found one called "The
Great Depression: 1929-1941" by Robert S. McElvaine. This book has been informative so far
and begins by talking about the stock market crash and what brought on the Great Depression,
and chronicles events throughout the following decade. This book also focuses largely on the
economic and political lenses and talks a lot about President Roosevelt and his efforts to help the
economy. My other secondary source is “FDR’s Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal
Prolonged the Great Depression” by Jim Powell.
This book focuses specifically on President
Roosevelt and his New Deal, and all its flaws and wrongdoing. It focuses mainly on the political
lens. Some similarities of the books are that they cover the political and economic aspects of the
Great Depression. McElvaine speaks about the depression in a broader sense, covering all sorts
of topics, including social aspects and consequences. He informs us of all the different facets of
the period. Powell focuses strictly on what President Roosevelt was doing, the New Deal being a
major topic.
III. Describe at least two primary sources that you could use to research your historical event.
Your sources must be relevant to your event and must be of an appropriate academic nature. In
your description, consider questions such as: How do these sources relate to your secondary
sources? What do they add to your understanding of the event? What makes them appropriate
and relevant for investigating your event?
One primary source I chose is President Roosevelt’s “Radio Address of the President”
from May 7, 1933. It is from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. This source has a lot of
information on what Roosevelt’s original plan was to bring the country out of the depression. It
seems to cover every aspect of the Country’s recovery, from railroads to agriculture, to the sale
of beer (pertaining to prohibition). Another primary source is an article published by the Literary
Digest titled “Grave Problems the New President Faces.” on March 4, 1933. This source speaks
about the initial plans of a new deal. I think it will give me some insight into what the original
expectations and plans were.
IV. Based on your review of primary and secondary sources, develop a research question related
to the historical event you selected. In other words, what would you like to know more about?
Research Question: Even with an increase in employment around election times, the WPA
couldn’t employ enough people to end unemployment.
V. Identify an audience that would be interested in your historical event and research question.
For example, who would benefit most from hearing your message?
I think my historical event and research question would be best received by freshman
students taking a history class. I feel it is not too specific for someone inexperienced to
understand. I will briefly explain the cause of the Great Depression, touch on what the Works
Progress Administration was, and then explain why it didn’t achieve its intended purpose, which
was to end unemployment.
VI. Describe how and why you can tailor your message to your audience, providing specific
examples. For example, will your audience understand historical terminology and principles
associated with your event, or will you need to explain these? How will you communicate
effectively with your audience?
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My intended audience probably has little to no knowledge of the great depression. I
would begin by explaining the main causes of the great depression and how they affected the
country. I would also explain how President Roosevelt was eager to repair the economy, give a
few examples of his “New Deal” and how this led to the creation of the Works Progress
Administration. I would keep vocabulary and terminology very basic. The biggest words
probably being “unemployment” and “reform”.