Chapter 22, Student Web Activities, Texas and Texans, Glencoe, 2003

Chapter 22: The Great Depression
"The WPA"

Introduction
When the Great Depression hit the United States in the 1930s, no one could have guessed that the economic downturn would become the worst economic disaster in the country's history. By 1932 the nation's people struggled to survive, and they pinned their hopes on the new president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. He asked Congress to pass a number of laws and agencies to help solve the economic problems. One of Roosevelt's New Deal programs was the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This agency hired 600,000 Texans to do such things as build stadiums and parks, paint murals, and even interview people. In this activity, you will learn more about an early Texan from a WPA interview.

Destination Title: American Life Histories

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips.

Directions
Start at the American Life Histories Web site.

Click on Select a State.
On the map, click on the state of Texas.
Now click on List All Texas Titles.
Scroll down to number 12, and click on Aunt Mary Davenport.
Read the interview.

After you have read the interview, answer the following questions.

1. Who is telling the story? When and where was Mary Davenport born?

2. In 1858, when Mary was 35 years old, what happened to her second husband?

3. Who were "renegades," and how did Mary hide her money from them?

4. Mary owned a store. How much did one hat cost? One pound of coffee?

5. Conduct your own interview of someone who has a story to tell, such as a grandparent or an elderly neighbor. Ask questions such as: What is your best memory from childhood? What was school like? What did you do for entertainment? What duties were expected of you at home? What were the serious issues you had to face as a teenager? Write a one- or two-page report detailing the questions and answers from your interview.