Iowa Past to Present Teacher's Guide: Chapter 17: Depression, Changing Times, and World War II

Iowa Past to Present

Introduction

The years after the First World War were a time when the new mixed with the old. Horse-drawn wagons and shiny automobiles shared the same roads. An Iowan set a speed record in an airplane. Radios brought music and news into homes, and movie theatres spread across the state. In the 1930s, however, the hard times spread beyond farming and times became tough for most people in the nation. It was the Great Depression, when many people were unable to find work and most families had little money. Meanwhile, a new leader, called Adolph Hitler, had come to power in Germany. He wanted his country to be the most powerful nation on earth. At the same time, Japan built up its military strength in the Far East. Other counties again prepared for war. The United States had become too involved in world affairs to stand apart.

Explore the resources on this page to find out more about ideas in the chapter:

  • Iowa Past to Present Teacher Guide: Chapter 17
  • Pathways: Find related articles and make connections with other ideas in Iowa history.
  • Artifacts: View related images, videos and more.
  • Side Trails: Explore more on this topic on other websites.

Suggested Classroom Resources and Lesson Plans

  • The Depression, Explorations in Iowa History Project, University of Northern Iowa
  • Iowa Pathways Quest and Challenges
    The Iowa Pathways Quest and Challenges are a collection of tasks that support students as they make and interpret connections among the people, places, events, and ideas of Iowa. Worksheets that model the thinking and research process are provided, as well as rubrics to aid you and your students.

Iowa Past to Present Chapter Listing

This online teachers guide was developed as a companion to the textbook Iowa Past to Present: The People and the Prairie (Revised 3rd Ed.); written by Dorothy Schwieder, Thomas Morain, and Lynn Nielsen; published by University of Iowa Press. Select a chapter from the list below to find related content and classroom resources.

Pathways

Choose a Pathway link above to find related articles and make connections with other ideas in Iowa history.

Media Artifacts

Find related images, videos and more in the Artifacts list above. The Side Trails listing below contains links to other websites related to the topic.

Web Sites