This 22-page resource with 26 primary sources, 27 comprehension questions plus 2 DBQ prompts gives students a chance to identify the tensions for women between tradition and progress in the 1920s, along with the new opportunities. The first page includes Background, Notes on Primary Sources and Teacher Notes.

Here’s a chance for students to read documents and look at images that shed light on issues facing women during the Great Depression. These include newspaper pictures and articles about the difficulty of finding work, women's clubs, clothing advertisements, "wandering women", articles about women's need to be in the home, women's lack of equality in society as well as women's right and ability to hold jobs, photos of rural women, African-American women's activities and leisure activities, as well as excerpts from the Social Security Act and an ex-slave narrative. There are, of course, so many more documents and issues of the 1930s but these documents cover a broad range of what women experienced. Many of the political events of the time still minimized, or even excluded, women's input although sometimes women provided reflections, opinions and even participation when possible. Nonetheless, the included primary sources highlight many of the challenges of the era, although they also provide glimmers of progress during a troubled time.

Assign just one, a few or all of the sources depending on time constraints and student interest.

Primary sources include advertisements, photos, newspaper articles, excerpts and other documents. Each page of primary sources includes comprehension questions at the end in order for students to analyze perspectives, consider key ideas and identify bias.

Included is a one-page sheet that explains what primary sources are and how to analyze them using specific questions through a process called HAPPY. There is also a page at the end for students to apply the HAPPY process to one source.

Two DBQ prompts are included at the end with instructions on how to create a response to the prompt.

An Answer Key to all the comprehension questions and the DBQ prompts are available at the end of the packet.

This is excellent practice for all high school students, particularly Honors and AP students, but all students will find these resources engaging.

This is also available as a digital resource through Easel so students may complete it online.

Please check out my other Primary Source Analysis and DBQ Teaching Resources about Women's History

* Women in Colonial America: DBQ's and Primary Sources
* Women of the American Revolution: DBQ's and Primary Sources
* Early Women's Rights 1840-1865: DBQ's and Primary Sources
* Women during the Industrial Era: DBQ's and Primary Sources
* Women's Suffrage Movement: 1865-1920: DBQs and Primary Sources
* Women during the 1920s: DBQs and Primary Sources
* Women in the U.S. Military during World War II: DBQ's and Primary Sources

More are always being added so check back frequently!

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Thank you!

Christa Nonnemaker