Chapter 25: The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1929-1941
The following activities accompany the Legacy for a People and a Nation on
"Social Security for Retired Americans" in Chapter 25. Refer to page 726 of Norton, A People and a Nation, Sixth Edition for the complete text of this Legacy. There are three parts to this web page: Questions to Consider, Investigation, and Further Exploration.
Questions to Consider
1. Compared to other developed nations, is the United States a pioneer or latecomer to social
security benefits for the elderly and the disabled?
2. What conditions helped move the Social Security Act through Congress in 1935? Were any
concessions made to secure its passage?
3. Does Social Security work against our notion of rugged individualism in America? Does Social
Security reveal that the American sense of individualism is simply a myth?
Investigation
Think about the significance of Social Security for your generation. What role do you see
Social Security playing in your future? Do you think it will still be a viable system when you
retire? Does the system need revision or protection?
After reading about the
Social Security system and exploring
current budget projections, write a position paper for your senator who is running for reelection. Be sure to explore some of the
oral histories on the SSA web site to get a better understanding of the program's scope and goals.
Further Exploration
1. Visit the official site of the
Social Security Administration with news, questions, etc. regarding the Social Security system. If you are over 21 and under 63, use the retirement planner to project your future benefits.
2. The
CATO Institute is a conservative thinktank which argues that privatizing social security benfits various demographic groups.
3. You may read the summaries or the complete reports prepared by the Social Security Administration on the
status of social security and its effects on U.S. society.
4. America's largest labor union, the
AFL-CIO, challenges some common views about social security.
