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5th Grade ESL Tennessee History Part Five: Depression Hits Home   How did the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority and President Roosevelt's New Deal change Tennessee?1) The Great Depression was a time in American history, 1930-1940, when many banks closed because of business failures. If a bank closed, it meant that you had lost all the money that you had in that bank. You were bankrupt. What might happen if your family were bankrupt? 
A TVA dam under construction
2) The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) used engineering to tame the Tennessee River. Dams were built along with hydroelectric plants. Everyone who lived near the dam was affected by the dams. Why? Many jobs were created. The dam builders lived in the workers' villages built along the river. The use of electricity skyrocketed. Man-made lakes were formed because of the dams.
President Roosevelt
3) Under President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal program, the federal government built many things in Tennessee -- such as new roads, airports, courthouses and post offices. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was improved. Why were these improvements important to Tennessee?
Our New Tennessee History Words
* failures: If something fails, it does not succeed. * bankrupt: When you are without money, you are bankrupt. * engineering: Engineering uses science to solve practical problems. * tame: When something is out of control, you must tame it so that it can be useful. * dams: A dam is a barrier that contains or controls the flow of water. * hydroelectric plant: A hydroelectric plant uses falling water to produce electricity. * skyrocketed: Something skyrockets when it goes up in value very quickly. * federal: Something that is federal is related to the central power of the United States.  Click here to go to the next section. |
