his engaging and fully resourced lesson helps students evaluate how successful the New Deal was in putting Americans back to work through two key alphabet agencies — the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Public Works Administration (PWA). Through a mix of clear explanations, historical sources, and interactive learning activities, students explore how these programs reflected President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s goals and assess how effective they were in tackling unemployment during the Great Depression.

The resource includes a nineteen-slide PowerPoint presentation filled with information, discussion prompts, and six structured activities that guide students through the topic step by step. The lesson opens with a collaborative “snowballing” starter to review prior knowledge before moving on to an analysis of FDR’s First Inaugural Address and the wider aims of the New Deal. Students then use an animated diagram to understand how fear and low consumer confidence deepened the Depression, followed by a source analysis activity exploring the policy of “pump priming” and opposition to Roosevelt’s economic program.

Later in the lesson, students investigate the kinds of jobs created by the Civil Works Administration and decide whether they represented meaningful employment or “boondoggles.” The final activity involves a Venn diagram card sort comparing the CWA and PWA, helping students develop a reasoned judgement about which agency was most effective in achieving the goals of the New Deal. A printable blank Venn diagram and a twenty-four-card sorting sheet are also provided for easy classroom use.

This lesson aligns closely with U.S. History and Social Studies standards and fits perfectly within units on the Great Depression and the New Deal, typically taught in Grades 8–11. It can also be used as an enrichment or review activity in AP U.S. History (APUSH). The lesson encourages historical thinking, evaluation, and source analysis, helping students build a deeper understanding of how government programs sought to restore confidence and employment during one of America’s most challenging periods.

The aims and objectives of this lesson are:

Theme: How Successful Was the New Deal, 1933–1939?

Learning Goals:
Students will know the main aims of the New Deal.
Students will understand how the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Public Works Administration (PWA) helped reduce unemployment.
Students will evaluate which of these New Deal programs was most effective in achieving President Roosevelt’s goals.

Success Criteria (What I’m Looking For):
Students can identify and describe key actions taken by FDR to end the Great Depression.
Students can explain how the CWA and PWA created jobs and supported economic recovery.
Students can analyze how successful the New Deal was overall between 1933 and 1939.