Letters to Eleanor Roosevelt
"I have moments of real terror when I think we might be losing this generation. We have got to bring these young people into the active life of the community and make them feel that they are necessary."
--New York Times, 5/34
--New York Times, 5/34
During the Great Depression, as you have learned, numerous people were without work, money, food and other resources; most felt they had no where to turn, so they wrote to one who seemed like their friend, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who had been working diligently with her husband to set up programs to help the American people. She received thousands of letters from children asking for her help.
1. List five problems that children face in American society today.
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2.
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5.
2. Go to the following website: http://newdeal.feri.org/eleanor/er3a.htm
3. Read five letters to Mrs. Roosevelt and summarize the problems each young writer mentioned. Also include what the writer wanted from Mrs. Roosevelt. Include the author’s name as well.
Letter 1:
Letter 2:
Letter 3:
Letter 4:
Letter 5:
4. What was Mrs. Roosevelt’s response to each letter?
5. Compare the entries and discuss the similarities and differences between the problems faced by 1930s and today's youth. Do you think that young people of today face greater challenges than young people of the 1930s? Why or why not? Do you think today's young people have a better chance of receiving help for their problems that their 30s counterparts? Explain your response.
