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Primary
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Primary Resources: First Inaugural Address 1933

For Students 9th - 10th
A transcription of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address delivered on March 4, 1933.
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Primary
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Primary Resources: Pearl Harbor Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
A transcript of the infamous speech delivered by Franklin Roosevelt asking Congress to declare war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Primary
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library: "The Four Freedoms"

For Students 9th - 10th
In his pivotal inaugural address in January 1941, FDR readies the nations for what he sees as our inevitable involvement in WWII. Read the full text of this infamous speech to understand the nation's mindset at this point in history.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: Prohibition and Its Consequences

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Was prohibition necessary to protect family values or was it an over-reach by the government? Students will debate this question while analyzing documents from this era. Documents include political cartoon, photos, letters from citizens,...
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Website
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: From Political Liberty to Social Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
In the early stages of the new nation's government the members of Congress sought to protect the citizens from political tyranny. Social freedoms emerged in the twentieth century when FDR begged for economic protection of U.S. citizens.
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Primary
New Deal Network

New Deal Network: Extemporaneous Address on Aaa to Farm Groups 14 May 1935

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of remarks made by FDR on the effects of the Agricultural Adjustment Act and of other government programs to aid farmers.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: President Franklin D. Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
This companion to the PBS series surveys the career of the longest-serving president in U.S. history and leader through the Great Depression and World War II.
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Graphic
The History Place

The History Place: Atlantic Charter Fdr and Chruchill

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides a brief summary of the Atlantic Charter. Includes photo of Roosevelt and Churchill. A link is also provided to return to the WWII timeline for additional information on related subjects.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Fdr: Harry L. Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical information on Harry L. Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce under Franklin D. Roosevelt, and also director of the Federal Emergency Relief Agency and head of the Lend-Lease Program.
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Primary
Social Security Administration

Social Security Online: 1935 Administration Economic Security Bill

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the Economic Security Act proposed to Congress by Roosevelt in 1935, with a link for downloading a PDF version of the final bill.
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Primary
Social Security Administration

Social Security Online: 1935 Congressional Debates on Social Security

For Students 9th - 10th
Full text of the debates in the House and the Senate over the Social Security Act of 1935, proposed by President Roosevelt for economic relief and recovery as part of his New Deal. Each of the debates can be downloaded in PDF form.
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Primary
Social Security Administration

Social Security Online: 1937 Supreme Court Opinions

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth discussion on the constitutionality of the Social Security Act and the 1937 Supreme Court decisions that helped settle it.
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Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

University of California: Calisphere: Great Depression: Help and a New Deal

For Students 9th - 10th
Original photographs highlight the New Deal programs intended to aid families and individuals during the Great Depression.
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Primary
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Fireside Chat: Plan for Reorganization of Judiciary

For Students 9th - 10th
Franklin D. Roosevelt introduces a movement to reorganize the judiciary system of the United States during his March 9, 1937 Fireside Chat. He proposes to change the number of judges and the terms of their services to best uphold the...
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Primary
American Presidency Project

American Presidency Project: Suspending Marketing Limitations on Sugar

For Students 9th - 10th
Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech from 09/11/1939 on lifting the marketing quotas on sugar production in the United States due to the outbreak of war in Europe.
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Primary
American Presidency Project

American Presidency Project: State of the Union Addresses and Messages

For Students 9th - 10th
This site compiles all of the State of the Union addresses and messages by all the presidents in U.S. history (except William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield).
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Primary
Social Security Administration

Social Security Online: History: Social Insurance for u.s.

For Students 9th - 10th
The text of a radio speech given by Secretary of Labor Francis Perkins in 1935 in which he explained the Administration's proposals contained in the Economic Security Bill. This bill formed the basis for what later became the Social...
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Interactive
US National Archives

Our Documents: Tennessee Valley Authority Act (1933)

For Students 9th - 10th
An actual interactive copy of the original Tennessee Valley Authority Act that created cheap power in the Tennessee Valley. Links to larger images, a typed transcript, and a downloadable .PDF file are included on this site. Make sure to...
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Activity
Other

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Learning Bank

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive educational site where you can learn the who-what-when-where-why-how of the FDIC. Includes lots of history from the New Deal era. Solid information in a format that's for kids.
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Primary
New Deal Network

New Deal Network: Presidential Statement on n.i.r.a.

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of a speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt after he signed the bill known as the National Industrial Recovery Act. Discusses purposes and intended impact of the legislation.
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Primary
Yale University

Yale Law School: First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first Inaugural address. In this speech, he outlines the world crisis facing the country in 1933. He also outlines the aims of government programs and his primary goal, which was to relieve unemployment by...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Mail to the Chief: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhibition that celebrates FDR's love for stamps and stamp collecting.
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Primary
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Commonwealth Club Address

For Students 9th - 10th
An address by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 was delivered to win over the American people on the premise of economic security during the tremendous strife brought about by the Great Depression.
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Primary
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
Criticism from Herbert Hoover to President Roosevelt was sent in a private letter. Hoover offered suggestions for the president to help reassure the people of the United States during a time of great fear and desolation.

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