Summary: How did the passage of the 1935 Social Security Act transform the role the federal government plays in the lives of the American people? This lesson engages students in the debate over Social Security. Students will be able to describe the reasoning of the Roosevelt Administration in creating this act; assess the arguments that were made to support and oppose the act; understand and analyze the ways in which the Social Security Act changed the role of the federal government in relation to the nation's workforce; and examine the way the Social Security Act reflected divisions in American society.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- ECONOMICS: What is the proper role of government in the economy? (Especially with regard to economic crises, national defense/security, health and safety of the people, and economic development and practices.)
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsPR.10.a: Analyze how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution to define and expand individual rights and use evidence to document the long-term impact of these decisions on the protection of civil and human rights.
- 6.1.12.CivicsPR.10.b: Assess the effectiveness of governmental policies enacted during the New Deal period in protecting the welfare of individuals (i.e., FDIC, NLRB, and Social Security)
- 6.1.12.HistoryCA.10.a: Explain how Franklin Roosevelt and other key individuals, including minorities and women, shaped the core ideologies and policies of the New Deal (i.e., Mary McLeod Bethune, Frances Perkins, and Eleanor Roosevelt).
Link to Lessons: The Social Security Act | NEH-Edsitement