Teaching and Learning Federal Reserve History

As part of its work to promote a stable economy and improve consumer knowledge of economics and finance, the Federal Reserve creates education resources in economics, history, personal finance, and more, for students of many ages. This page is aimed at secondary and postsecondary educators and highlights curriculum materials relevant to content on the site. 

These resources are focused on high school, college, and adult learners. For classroom resources appropriate to grades pre-K and up, visit federalreserveeducation.org. 

On this Page

Education Resources by Time Period

• Before the Fed (1791-1913)
• The Fed's Formative Years (1913-1929)
• The Great Depression (1929-1941)
• From WWII to the Treasury-Fed Accord (1941-1951)
• The Great Inflation (1965-1982)
• The Great Moderation (1982-2007)
• The Great Recession and its Aftermath (2007- )

Other Education Resources

• Understanding the Fed
• Federal Reserve System Education Sites
• Other Finance, Banking, and Money Education Sites

History Resources by Time Period

Before the Fed 1791-1913

• "The State and National Banking Eras: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking" 20 page classroom booklet by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, for grades 9-12, college.
• First Bank of the U.S.
  • "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking" classroom pamphlet by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, for grades 8-12 and accompanying 45-minute classroom lesson, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, for grades 8-12. This lesson aligns with National Standards in Economics, National Standards for History, Historical Thinking Standards, National Council for the Social Studies Strands, and Common Core State Standards.
  • "Hamilton’s National Bank" classroom lesson by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and PowerPoint slides, for grades 8-12. This lesson aligns with Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, National Standards for Financial Literacy and C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
• Second Bank of the US
  • "The Second Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking" 14-page classroom booklet by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, for grades 9-12, college.
• Panic of 1907
  • "The Panic of 1907: J.P. Morgan and the Money Trust" classroom lesson for grades 10-12, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This lesson aligns with Common Core Standards and United States History Content Standards. Accessed through FRASER.
  • "The Commercial and Financial Chronicle and the Panic of 1907" FRASER QuickLook for grades 6-12, college by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• Meeting at Jekyll Island
  • "Jekyll Island and the Creation of the Fed" classroom lesson for grades 9-12, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and supplemental resources. This lesson aligns with Common Core Standards.
• "Myths, Tall Tales, and Urban Legends: Facts Behind the Fed" classroom lesson, for grades 11-12, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. This lesson aligns with the National Content Standards in Economics.
• "Constitutionality of a Central Bank" classroom lesson by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, for grades 8-12. This lesson aligns with Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, Common Core Standards, United States History Content Standards.

The Fed’s Formative Years: 1913–1929

• "Federal Reserve System, The First 100 Years: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking" classroom booklet for grades 9-12, college by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

The Great Depression: 1929–1941

• "Great Depression" curriculum unit for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  • "Measuring the Great Depression" classroom lesson for grades 9-12, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This Lesson aligns with the C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, National Standards in Economics.
  • "Family Budgets and the Great Depression" classroom lesson for grades 9-12, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This lesson aligns with C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards and Voluntary National Economic Standards.
• "Great Depression Online Module for Teachers and Students" online module for grades 9-12 and above by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "Great Depression Crossword" crossword puzzle for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "Great Depression Word Search" word search for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "Understanding the Great Depression" interactive timeline and video by The Federal Reserve.

From WWII to the Treasury-Fed Accord: 1941–1951

• "The Arsenal of Democracy: The United States in World War II" classroom lesson for grades 7-12, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and accompanying PowerPoint slides. This lesson aligns with National Standards in Economics, Common Core State Standards, and United States History Content Standards.
• "Money for Nothing: Economic Affluence in Postwar America" classroom lesson for grades 10-12, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This lesson aligns with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards and Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics.

The Great Inflation: 1965–1982

• "The Great Inflation: A Historical Overview and Lessons Learned" classroom (Page One Economics) newsletter for grades 9-12, college, St. Louis Federal Reserve.
• "The Great Inflation Online Module for Teachers and Students" module for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This lesson received the 2016 Curriculum Gold Award from the National Association of Economic Educators.

The Great Moderation: 1982–2007

• "The Great Moderation" interactive timeline and video by The Federal Reserve.

Understanding the Fed

• "In Plain English - Making Sense of the Federal Reserve" online module, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "Federal Reserve System, The First 100 Years: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking" classroom booklet for grades 9-12, college, by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
• "History of the Federal Reserve" timeline and quizzes on the Federal Reserve Education website.
• "Federal Reserve Monetary Policy," a timeline of the development of the Fed's monetary policy tools, policies, and communication, on FRASER
• "Fed Board Builder" classroom activity for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "How the Federal Reserve Implements Monetary Policy" lecture guide and PowerPoint slides for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This lesson aligns with Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics. 
• "Meet the Fed: America’s Central Bank" overview for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
• "The Fed Explained" classroom activity and infographic for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. 
• "The Fed Explains Monetary Policy" animated video for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
• "Your Connection to the Economy and the Federal Reserve" classroom activity for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
• "How High Is Your Fed IQ?" classroom activity for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. 
• "The Structure and Functions of the Federal Reserve" class lesson and extensive resources for grades 9-12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Federal Reserve System Education and Research Sites

Nine of the twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks provide economic education materials and outreach in their Districts: 

• Federal Reserve System education resources:https://www.federalreserveeducation.org/
• Federal Reserve online classroom education platform: https://www.econlowdown.org/
• Board of Governors economic education: https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/educational-tools/default.htm
• Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta economic education: https://www.atlantafed.org/education.aspx
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago economic education: https://www.chicagofed.org/education/index
• Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland economic education: https://www.clevelandfed.org/en/learningcenter/teach.aspx
• Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas economic education: https://www.dallasfed.org/educate.aspx
• Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City economic education: https://www.kansascityfed.org/
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York economic education: https://www.newyorkfed.org/outreach-and-education/economic-education
• Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia economic education: https://www.philadelphiafed.org/education
• Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond economic education: https://www.richmondfed.org/education
• Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis economic education:https://www.stlouisfed.org/education
• Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco archived education resources: https://www.frbsf.org/education/
• FRASER Digital Library: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org 

Other Economics, Finance, Banking, and Money Education Sites

• Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/
• Economic History Association encyclopedia: https://eh.net/encyclopedia-2/
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) History: https://www.fdic.gov/about/history/
• FINRA Investor Education Foundation^® https://www.finrafoundation.org/
• National Association of Economic Educators: https://www.naee.net/
• Measuring Worth https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ 
• SIFMA Foundation: https://www.sifma.org/about/sifma-foundation/
• U.S. Currency Academy: https://www.uscurrency.gov/educational-materials/classrooms/currency-academy
• U.S. Treasury Department History: https://home.treasury.gov/about/history