Premium

Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

No ratings yet

Just this resource

$1.50

One-time purchase

Best value

Unlock everything

$19.99/yr

5,000+ resources, AI tools

Unlock above to use these actions

Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 345
Subjects: readinghistoryela
Standards: D2.HIS.2.3-5D2.HIS.14.3-5RI.4.3RI.4.4RI.4.10
Languages: English, Spanish

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This engaging history reading passage explores the life and leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his creation of the New Deal programs during the Great Depression. Students will learn about Roosevelt’s election as president, the challenges America faced during the 1930s, and how the New Deal helped create jobs and hope for millions of Americans. With a clear, chronological narrative, this passage highlights important vocabulary, cause-and-effect relationships, and the problem-solving spirit of the nation at that time. Activities include a multiple-choice quiz, writing questions to encourage historical thinking, and a timeline to reinforce key events. The passage is aligned with the C3 Framework for Social Studies and Common Core ELA standards. Read aloud audio and a full Spanish translation are included, making it accessible for all learners. This resource is perfect for building foundational knowledge of U.S. history and supporting literacy skills.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

FDR-Labor-Day-1941-radio-address.jpg
Source: Wikimedia Commons - FDR Presidential Library & Museum, Source=[https://www.flickr.com/photos/fdrlibrary/9067857425/ 47-96 1520] |Date=2004-09-15 09:38 |Author=[https://www.flickr.com/people/54078784@N08 FDR Presidential Library & Museum]

The Great Depression was a time of hardship for millions of Americans. Many people lost their jobs, homes, and savings. Banks failed, and families struggled to buy food. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, also called FDR, became President of the United States. He promised to help the country recover from these difficult times.

FDR believed the government should take action to solve big problems. He created a series of programs called the New Deal. The New Deal aimed to give people jobs, protect their bank savings, and offer hope. FDR spoke to Americans through radio talks known as “Fireside Chats.” These talks made people feel less afraid and more united.

One way the New Deal helped was by creating jobs. Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) hired young men to plant trees and build parks. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built roads, schools, and hospitals. These programs gave people work and helped communities grow stronger.

The New Deal also worked to fix the banking system. The government set up the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect people’s savings. This meant that even if a bank closed, people would not lose all their money. Because of this, people began to trust banks again.

FDR’s New Deal changed the way Americans saw their government. People saw that the government could help solve national problems. The programs gave hope to the nation and helped many families survive hard times. FDR’s leadership brought new ideas and courage to the country.

Today, some New Deal programs still exist. The Social Security Act, started during the New Deal, helps older Americans with money when they retire. The New Deal showed how strong leadership and bold ideas can help a nation recover.

Interesting Fact: FDR was the only U.S. President elected four times. He led the country through both the Great Depression and most of World War II.

Who was President during the New Deal?

Franklin D. RooseveltAbraham LincolnJohn F. KennedyGeorge Washington

What did the New Deal create?

JobsCarsMoviesSports teams

Which program protected bank savings?

FDICCCCWPANASA

Why did FDR give Fireside Chats?

To make people feel saferTo announce sports newsTo start a new warTo talk about music

What was a main goal of the New Deal?

Help Americans recoverBuild new citiesWin a warInvent computers

What did the Social Security Act do?

Help older Americans with moneyPlant treesBuild roadsStart new banks

FDR was President for four terms.

TrueFalse

What does 'hardship' mean?

A time of struggleA fun eventA kind of shipA bank account

Common Core standards covered

RI.4.10

By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4–5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

RI.4.3

Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.

RI.4.4

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.