Question

go to breadlines and soup kitchens and read the article. then answer the following questions:

1. name at least 3 things people would likely be waiting in line for.
2. before the state and federal governments provided assistance, who was providing relief to americans? who ran a soup kitchen in chicago and why could it be ironic?
3. a subsistence level is the bare minimum of basic needs that a family requires to survive. what percentage of american families was living below this level? (hint: you’ll have to google this one.)

new deal
go the works progress administration read and answer the following questions.

1. how many people were employed by the wpa? what percentage of the wpa workforce was made up of women?
2. according to the article, what did the wpa build?
3. when support of artists was questioned, what was harry hopkins’ response?

go to wpa support for artists check out the art on this site. go to part i and ii. then answer the following questions:

1. what topic does this site cover?
2. describe the types of art produced by the government sponsored artists.
3. how did employing artists help america during the great depression? do you think this was a worthy use of government support?

Explanation:

These questions relate to historical events (Great Depression, New Deal, WPA) and social relief efforts, which fall under History (a subfield of Social Science). To answer, one would research historical sources: for Q5, common items at breadlines/soup kitchens (food, clothing, shelter - related aid); Q6, private charities/individuals (e.g., Al Capone’s soup kitchen, ironic as he was a gangster); Q7, historical data on subsistence levels (e.g., ~25% in Great Depression); Q8, WPA employed ~8.5 million, women ~15%; Q9, WPA built infrastructure (roads, schools, parks); Q10, Harry Hopkins defended artist support (e.g., “Hell, they’ve got to eat too”); Q11, WPA’s artist support; Q12, murals, paintings, public art; Q13, economic relief, cultural legacy, and debate on worth.

Answer:

To answer these, research historical sources:

1. E.g., food (bread, soup), clothing, medical aid.
2. Private charities/individuals; Al Capone (ironic: gangster providing relief).
3. ~25% (Great Depression era estimate).
4. ~8.5 million employed; ~15% women.
5. Infrastructure (roads, schools, parks, public buildings).
6. “Hell, they’ve got to eat too” (defending artist support).
7. WPA’s support for artists (art programs).
8. Murals, paintings, sculptures, public art reflecting American life.
9. Helped economically (jobs) and culturally (legacy); worth: yes (relief + art) or no (other needs), debated.

(Note: Exact answers require reading the specified articles and historical research.)