Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt and Social Reform in the New Deal

Activity 1, Group: A | B | C | D

Activity 2, Group: A | B | C | D

Activity One, Group A: Youth and Education

1. Reading a short biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, focusing on the New Deal years (paragraphs 13–18).
2. Read Abolish Jim Crow! focusing on the following questions: What are the four basic rights for citizens described here? What problems did African Americans face? How did fighting World War II relate to the fight for racial justice?
3. Read paragraphs 1–14 of Good Citizenship: The Purpose of Education, which will provide background knowledge to help understand the next document.
4. Read National Youth Administration and answer the questions below about this document.

• What reform ideas does Eleanor Roosevelt propose?
• What is an example of a responsive government policy in the document?
• What is the role of education in a democracy?

Activity One, Group B: Civil Rights

1. Reading a short biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, focusing on the New Deal years (paragraphs 13–18).
2. Read Abolish Jim Crow! focusing on the following questions: What are the four basic rights for citizens described here? What problems did African Americans face? How did fighting World War II relate to the fight for racial justice?
3. Read The Negro and Social Change, which will provide background knowledge to help understand the next document.
4. Read Eleanor's Commitment to African Americans and answer the questions below about this document.

• What reform ideas does Eleanor Roosevelt propose?
• What is an example of a responsive government policy in the document?
• What was Eleanor Roosevelt's civil rights agenda?

Activity One, Group C: Unemployment and Economic Reorganization

1. Reading a short biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, focusing on the New Deal years (paragraphs 13–18).
2. Read Abolish Jim Crow! focusing on the following questions: What are the four basic rights for citizens described here? What problems did African Americans face? How did fighting World War II relate to the fight for racial justice?
3. Read Arthurdale, which will provide background knowledge to help understand the next document.
4. Read Subsistence Farmsteads and answer the questions below about this document.

• What reform ideas does Eleanor Roosevelt propose?
• What is an example of a responsive government policy in the document?
• What was Eleanor Roosevelt's civil rights agenda?

Activity One, Group D: Women in Politics

1. Reading a short biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, focusing on the New Deal years (paragraphs 13–18).
2. Read Abolish Jim Crow! focusing on the following questions: What are the four basic rights for citizens described here? What problems did African Americans face? How did fighting World War II relate to the fight for racial justice?
3. Read Eleanor as First Lady, which will provide background knowledge to help understand the next document.
4. Read Women in Politics and answer the questions below about this document.

• What reform ideas does Eleanor Roosevelt propose?
• What is an example of a responsive government policy in the document?
• What should be the role of women in public life?

Activity Two, Group A: Molly Dewson

Read the following documents and answer the questions below.

• Biography of Mary Williams (Molly) Dewson (1874–1962)
• This Social Security—What Is It?

• What is the role of government in the lives of its citizens, according to your readings?
• What are some of the social problems facing the United States and its citizens in the 1930s?
• What is the role of the individual?

Activity Two, Group B: Mary McLeod Bethune

Read the following documents and answer the questions below.

• Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955), Biography
• What Does American Democracy Mean to Me?"

• What is the role of government in the lives of its citizens, according to your readings?
• What are some of the social problems facing the United States and its citizens in the 1930s?
• What is the role of the individual?

Activity Two, Group C: Lorena Alice Hickok

Read the following documents and answer the questions below.

• Biography of Lorena Alice Hickok (1893–1968)
• Lorena Hickok, Report from the Field, June 6, 1934
• Lorena Hickok, Report from the Field, June 11, 1934

• What is the role of government in the lives of its citizens, according to your readings?
• What are some of the social problems facing the United States and its citizens in the 1930s?
• What is the role of the individual?

Activity Two, Group D: Frances Perkins

Read the following documents and answer the questions below.

• Biography of Frances Perkins (1880–1965)
• Social Insurance for U.S.
• What You Really Want Is an Autopsy

• What is the role of government in the lives of its citizens, according to your readings?
• What are some of the social problems facing the United States and its citizens in the 1930s?
• What is the role of the individual?