The photo of the 1937 unemployment census and the historical background on the use of random sampling of the population on long form questionnaires demonstrates the need for additional data during periods of rapid or ongoing social, economic, and political changes. Legislators quickly realized the value of interim data to fuel the programs that were initiated during the critical years between 1930 and 1940 censuses, but also anticipated some resistance to overcrowding the questionnaires. Random sampling combined with new statistical methods to extrapolate data enabled the Census Bureau to add more specialized surveys to measure demographic, business, and economic trends during critical periods of change.

The Great Depression - Using Census Data to Address an Economic Crisis 

Students will identify the connection between government statistics and government programs by examining the problems from the Great Depression that led to the implementation of the New Deal. Students will also use census data to support a point of view on the New Deal.

"To Kill a Mockingbird": An Introduction to 1930s America

This activity teaches students about the setting of Harper Lee’s famous novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which takes place during 3 years (1933–1935) of the Great Depression. Part 1 of this activity can be used before students start reading the novel to help them understand what life was like in the 1930s. In this part, students will examine and answer questions about census documents that feature unemployment numbers and related information. Part 2 can be completed after students have read the first few chapters of the novel. In this part, students will write a piece using the RAFT technique (role, audience, format, topic) to show what they learned about the 1930s and what they have read so far.