Navigating Economic Crises in U.S. History

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores how the United States government has historically intervened during times of significant economic crisis. Using an extended metaphor of a ship navigating through a storm, the host guides students through three distinct eras: the post-Revolutionary War debt crisis of 1789, the economic devastation of the South during Reconstruction (1865), and the Great Depression of the 1930s. The video examines the specific challenges of each era and the corresponding government policies enacted to stabilize the nation. Key themes include the balance between government intervention and free markets, the impact of war on national economies, and the evolution of the federal government's role in ensuring economic security. Specific historical topics covered include the Tariff Act of 1789, the transition from slavery to sharecropping, the Freedman's Bureau, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and FDR's New Deal policies (Relief, Recovery, and Reform). This video is a valuable resource for U.S. History and Civics classrooms as it synthesizes complex economic history into an accessible narrative. It actively engages students by posing "guiding questions" and encouraging them to pause and predict government actions before the answers are revealed. This structure supports critical thinking and helps students connect historical precedents to broader economic concepts like tariffs, inflation, and social safety nets.