Effects of the Ford Hunger March

Compelling Question: What were the effects of the Ford Hunger March on the advancement of workers' rights and the perception of organized labor in the United States during the Great Depression?

Topic: Great Depression

Standard: 7.1.2 Causes and Consequences of the Great Depression – explain and evaluate the multiple causes and consequences of the Great Depression by analyzing:

  • the political, economic, environmental, and social causes of the Great Depression, including fiscal policy, overproduction, underconsumption, speculation, the 1929 crash, and the Dust Bowl.

  • the economic and social toll of the Great Depression, including unemployment and environmental conditions that affected farmers, industrial workers, and families.

  • President Herbert Hoover’s policies and their impact, including the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.

This standard focuses on students analyzing the factors that led to the Great Depression and understanding the consequences of this economic crisis in the United States. 

Topic: Red Scare

Standard: 6.2.3 Domestic Impact of World War I – analyze the domestic impact of World War I on the growth of the government, the expansion of the economy, the restrictions on civil liberties, the expansion of women’s suffrage, and on internal migration.

Using this standard you can focus on students analyzing the causes, key events, and effects of the Red Scare, which refers to the period of intense anti-communist sentiment and fear of communism in the United States during the early to mid-20th century. 

 

Topic: Labor Movement

Standard: 6.1.2 Labor’s Response to Industrial Growth – evaluate the different responses of labor to industrial change, including the development of organized labor and the growth of populism and the populist movement.

This standard focuses on students analyzing the impact of organized labor and labor unions on the rights and well-being of workers in the United States.

 

Staging the Question:

Picture Analysis: Show students a photograph or a series of photographs depicting scenes from the Ford Hunger March. Ask them to observe the images closely and write down their initial thoughts, questions, and reactions. This activity will pique their curiosity and encourage them to explore the historical context and significance of the march.

OR

Audio Spark: Play a short audio clip related to the Ford Hunger March, such as the CuriosiD: What was the 1932 Ford Hunger March? podcast segment. After listening to the audio, ask students to jot down questions that arise from the clip and discuss them in small groups. This activity will create a sense of curiosity and encourage students to explore the topic further.