COURSE CONTENT: 
This class will examine the American Great Depression (1929-1939) through the lens of professional boxer James J. Braddock and the 2005 film "Cinderella Man." Students are required to have viewed the film on their own prior to class; access to the film is NOT provided by the instructor. 

This class meets three times, with a different topic for each class. This class is lecture and discussion based with an accompanying powerpoint. Period media representations such as film, music, photography, and literature will be referenced and examined to bring life to the subject. (For example: author John Steinbeck may be referenced or listed as suggested reading outside of class for students to examine the people and events of the era.) 


LEARNER EXPECTATIONS: 
Enrolled learners are expected to remain on camera for the duration of live class sessions. This is to ensure learner security and engagement. Learners who fail to appear on camera during live sessions may be withdrawn from the course without a refund. Similarly, enrolled learners are expected to attend the live sessions, not just watch the recording. (*If your learner is the only learner enrolled in the section, and they do not attend class, a recording will not be made available.*) Learners who wish to view recordings may take this class as a flex option. I expect learners enrolled in the live session to attend each class and remain on camera for the duration of class. Learners who fail to show up for 2 of the scheduled classes will be withdrawn from the course without a refund. 


COURSE SCHEDULE: 
Class 01: The Personal Experience: 
This class will look at James Braddock, Max Baer, and the experience of the American People during the depression. The experience of families living under economic hardship, what sort of jobs they worked, how they traveled in search of homes, jobs, and food will be examined. Additionally, the experience of Irish and Jewish Immigrants to the United States will be considered. Veterans, mothers, educated elites, farmers, and mine workers were all impacted by the depression. This first class will examine how. 

Class 02: The Political Experience: 
The 1930's was a dramatic political era, not exclusively within the United States. The crash of the American Stock Market impacted other countries as well. This second class will look at the rise of new political ideas both domestically and internationally. It will examine the politics surrounding President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" and what it meant for the American People, and the acceptance of new political ideologies such as Communism and Fascism. It will also look at events such as the 1932 Presidential election, the end of Prohibition, and how these events impacted society. (*This class will cover some tough topics such as the Rise of Adolf Hitler, segregation, and discrimination and may include photographs of Nazi symbols, or racial segregation signs.*) 

Class 03: The Economic Experience: 
This last class will look at the economic mechanics of the Great Depression, how and why the stock market crashed, and how it later recovered. It will examine the wartime economy of the Second World War, President Roosevelt's "New Deal" and initiatives such as Social Security, and the Works Progress Administration. It will look at the positive and negatives of these programs and their legacies. (*This class will use math and economic principles and may be difficult for younger or inexperienced learners.*)