The online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives

Where Was the New Deal?

Mapping History

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

You will see photographs of Americans at work during the Great Depression. Three New Deal programs are represented: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Examine each photograph to determine the New Deal program that this job was part of; then move the document pin to the state or region where you think the picture was taken. The first four have been done for you.


Name:
Class:

Worksheet

Where Was the New Deal?

Mapping History

Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Consider how each document or piece of text relates to the image shown below. Write the corresponding document or text number on the image where you think it belongs. (Some may be placed for you already.) Write your conclusion response in the space provided.

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1

Activity Element

WPA; "LSU Stadium Dedication; Hopkins speaking (back)"

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2

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Scott's Run, West Virginia. Interior of the Jero WPA nursery - These children are from unemployed miners' homes.

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3

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WPA: Indianapolis, Indiana "Flood Control"

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4

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Topeka, Kansas. Works Progress Administration (WPA) mattress making project.

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5

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WPA: FAP: kids involved in metal projects in New York City

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6

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Tennessee Valley Authority, dams in Alabama

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7

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CCC Camp BR-61 North Platte Project, Bayard, Nebraska: Photo of enrollees placing concrete at Siphon No. 5 intake.

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8

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CCC boys surveying thinning area, Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

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9

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Newberry County, South Carolina. CCC enrollees planting pine seedlings on W. W. Riser's farm, Newberry . . .

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10

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Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho, Boise National Forest

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11

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TVA Aircraft Ground Crew with Bi-Plane

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12

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WPA: Federal Theater Project:actors rehearsing scenes from the production "Brother Mose" in Newark, New Jersey

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13

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CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps Camp] Camp BR-58 Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Photo of enrollees with a dump truck spreading lining for a canal.

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14

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TVA shovel at work on roadway at Norris Dam site

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Conclusion

Where Was the New Deal?

Mapping History

As you have seen, New Deal programs occurred all over the United States. Create a list of the various types of jobs you saw in these photographs. For each job, note if it was a part of the WPA, CCC, or TVA. What do you think was the goal of each of these three programs?

Your Response




Document

CCC boys surveying thinning area, Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

ca. 1933

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195841
Full Citation: CCC boys surveying thinning area, Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota; ca. 1933; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/ccc-boys-surveying-thinning-area-black-hills-national-forest-south-dakota, March 28, 2024]


CCC boys surveying thinning area, Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

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Document

CCC Camp BR-61 North Platte Project, Bayard, Nebraska: Photo of enrollees placing concrete at Siphon No. 5 intake.

1/15/1941

This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Reclamation.
National Archives Identifier: 293545
Full Citation: CCC Camp BR-61 North Platte Project, Bayard, Nebraska: Photo of enrollees placing concrete at Siphon No. 5 intake.; 1/15/1941; Records of the Bureau of Reclamation, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/ccc-camp-br61-north-platte-project-bayard-nebraska-photo-of-enrollees-placing-concrete-at-siphon-no-5-intake, March 28, 2024]


CCC Camp BR-61 North Platte Project, Bayard, Nebraska: Photo of enrollees placing concrete at Siphon No. 5 intake.

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Document

CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps Camp] Camp BR-58 Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Photo of enrollees with a dump truck spreading lining for a canal.

ca. 1939 - 1941

This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Reclamation.
National Archives Identifier: 293502
Full Citation: CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps Camp] Camp BR-58 Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Photo of enrollees with a dump truck spreading lining for a canal. ; ca. 1939 - 1941; Records of the Bureau of Reclamation, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/ccc-[civilian-conservation-corps-camp]-camp-br58-carlsbad-project-new-mexico-photo-of-enrollees-with-a-dump-truck-spreading-lining-for-a-canal, March 28, 2024]


CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps Camp] Camp BR-58 Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Photo of enrollees with a dump truck spreading lining for a canal.

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Document

Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho, Boise National Forest

ca. 1933

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195828
Full Citation: Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho, Boise National Forest; ca. 1933; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/civilian-conservation-corps-in-idaho-boise-national-forest, March 28, 2024]


Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho, Boise National Forest

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Document

Newberry County, South Carolina. CCC enrollees planting pine seedlings on W. W. Riser's farm, Newberry . . .

4/1941

This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
National Archives Identifier: 522760
Full Citation: Newberry County, South Carolina. CCC enrollees planting pine seedlings on W. W. Riser's farm, Newberry . . .; 4/1941; Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/newberry-county-south-carolina-ccc-enrollees-planting-pine-seedlings-on-w-w-risers-farm-newberry-, March 28, 2024]


Newberry County, South Carolina. CCC enrollees planting pine seedlings on W. W. Riser's farm, Newberry . . .

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Document

Scott's Run, West Virginia. Interior of the Jero WPA nursery - These children are from unemployed miners' homes.

3/19/1937

This primary source comes from the Records of the Work Projects Administration.
National Archives Identifier: 518371
Full Citation: Scott's Run, West Virginia. Interior of the Jero WPA nursery - These children are from unemployed miners' homes.; 3/19/1937; Records of the Work Projects Administration, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/scotts-run-west-virginia-interior-of-the-jero-wpa-nursery-these-children-are-from-unemployed-miners-homes, March 28, 2024]


Scott's Run, West Virginia. Interior of the Jero WPA nursery - These children are from unemployed miners' homes.

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Document

Tennessee Valley Authority, dams in Alabama

ca. 6/1942

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 196447
Full Citation: Tennessee Valley Authority, dams in Alabama; ca. 6/1942; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/tennessee-valley-authority-dams-in-alabama, March 28, 2024]


Tennessee Valley Authority, dams in Alabama

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Document

Topeka, Kansas. Works Progress Administration (WPA) mattress making project.

ca. 1936 - ca. 1942

This primary source comes from the Records of the Work Projects Administration.
National Archives Identifier: 518266
Full Citation: Topeka, Kansas. Works Progress Administration (WPA) mattress making project.; ca. 1936 - ca. 1942; Records of the Work Projects Administration, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/topeka-kansas-works-progress-administration-wpa-mattress-making-project, March 28, 2024]


Topeka, Kansas. Works Progress Administration (WPA) mattress making project.

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Document

TVA Aircraft Ground Crew with Bi-Plane

1937

This primary source comes from the Records of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
National Archives Identifier: 279907
Full Citation: TVA Aircraft Ground Crew with Bi-Plane; 1937; Records of the Tennessee Valley Authority, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/tva-aircraft-ground-crew-with-biplane, March 28, 2024]


TVA Aircraft Ground Crew with Bi-Plane

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Document

TVA shovel at work on roadway at Norris Dam site

10/30/1933

This primary source comes from the Records of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
National Archives Identifier: 532696
Full Citation: TVA shovel at work on roadway at Norris Dam site; 10/30/1933; Records of the Tennessee Valley Authority, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/tva-shovel-at-work-on-roadway-at-norris-dam-site, March 28, 2024]


TVA shovel at work on roadway at Norris Dam site

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Document

WPA: FAP: kids involved in metal projects in New York City

ca. 1937

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 196144
Full Citation: WPA: FAP: kids involved in metal projects in New York City; ca. 1937; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/wpa-fap-kids-involved-in-metal-projects-in-new-york-city, March 28, 2024]


WPA: FAP: kids involved in metal projects in New York City

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Document

WPA: Federal Theater Project:actors rehearsing scenes from the production 'Brother Mose' in Newark, New Jersey

4/8/1936

This primary source comes from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 196522
Full Citation: WPA: Federal Theater Project:actors rehearsing scenes from the production 'Brother Mose' in Newark, New Jersey; 4/8/1936; Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/wpa-federal-theater-projectactors-rehearsing-scenes-from-the-production-brother-mose-in-newark-new-jersey, March 28, 2024]


WPA: Federal Theater Project:actors rehearsing scenes from the production 'Brother Mose' in Newark, New Jersey

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Document

WPA: Indianapolis, Indiana 'Flood Control'

ca. 1935 - 1939

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 196000
Full Citation: WPA: Indianapolis, Indiana 'Flood Control'; ca. 1935 - 1939; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/wpa-indianapolis-indiana-flood-control, March 28, 2024]


WPA: Indianapolis, Indiana 'Flood Control'

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Document

WPA; 'LSU Stadium Dedication; Hopkins speaking (back)'

11/28/1936

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs.
National Archives Identifier: 195772
Full Citation: WPA; 'LSU Stadium Dedication; Hopkins speaking (back)'; 11/28/1936; Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/wpa-lsu-stadium-dedication-hopkins-speaking-back, March 28, 2024]


WPA; 'LSU Stadium Dedication; Hopkins speaking (back)'

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