THE GREAT DEPRESSION

• Placed millions of people out of work
• Farmers were effected in the Great Depression because of the dust bowl
• Entire families would board trains and cross the country looking for work
• Thousands would apply for the same job
• People that weren't lucky enough to get the job would stay in towns called "Hoovervilles"

THE GREAT DEPRESSION CONT.

• Caused by the stock market crash on Oct. 29,1929
• The massive withdrawal of cash caused more banks to close
• Hoover was in president
• People felt Hoover was the cause of the depression
• Newspapers became known as Hoover blankets

STOCK MARKET CRASH

• Known as "Black Tuesday"
• Happened on Oct. 29,1929
• Stock prices plummeted
• Rumored circulated of people committing suicide
• Bankers pooled their money and invested a large sum back into the stock market

STOCK MARKET CRASH CONT.

• On "Black Tuesday" 12.9 million shares were sold
• Seeing a few banks close when the stock market crash cause panic
• People rushed to the bank in fear of losing their savings
• Caused bankruptcy because of the banks closing
• Businesses started cutting back workers

ROARING 20S HELP!

• The American way of life became a dream
• Immigrants came from all over the world because of the American dream
• End of WW1
• Prohibition caused mafia
• Blacks continued to be discriminated against

ROARING 20S HELP! CONT.

• High debts to keep up with high level of production and consumption
• People got cheap and very easy loans
• People bought houses and stock in the stock markets with loan
• People invested money without knowledge about econimics
• A lot of houses were built even though prices increased

PRESIDENT HOOVER

• People blamed him for the Great Depression
• Hoovervilles named after him
• Newspaper became known as "Hoover blankets"
• Pockets of pants turned out were called Hoover flags to show they were broke
• He spoke of optimism

PRESIDENT HOOVER CONT.

• He was unprepared to make necessary measures
• Didn't stand a chance in reelection
• His religion was important part of the campaign against Alfred smith
• During presidency unemployment rose to 25%
• 25% of all banks failed

LIFE DURNING THE DEPRESSION

• Most lived in Hoovervilles
• Rich were allowed to keep their houses and rented out rooms
• Unemployment rose to 25%
• 1933 worst point in the Great Depression years
• Farmers lost lands

LIFE DURING THE DEPRESSION CONT.

• People endured a hardscrabble
• People still tried to make the most of their lives
• Still went to movies, parlor games, and board games
• Average salary was 1,368
• Milk was 14 cents a gallon and bread was 9 cents a loaf

HOOVERVILLES

• Shantytowns formed coast to coast
• People were forced to stay in shacks
• One of the largest of Hooverville in the center of New Yorkshire Central Park
• "Squatter shacks" popped up everywhere
• Unemployed masons salvaged stone blocks to create 20-foot shanties

HOOVERVILLES CONT.

• Getting rid of Hoovervilles was a task
• People had no place to call home
• Government couldn't really do anything about the health issues
• Hoovervilles caused a scattered mess
• Cities tried to established a city housing authority in 1938

DUST BOWL

• Area of the great plans that was devastated by drought
• Had soil erosion during the 30s
• Millions were forced to leave their homes
• It worsened the Great Depression
• Alleviated after rain returned in 1939

DUST BOWL CONT.

• Children wore mask to and from school
• Women hung wet sheets from windows to stop dirt
• Farmers watched helplessly as their crops blew away
• Dust from the over-plowed and over-grazed land begins to blow.
• Dust covering more than 75 percent of the country and affecting 27 states severely.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

• Closed banks
• Opened them after they were stabilized
• Created new deal
• Created the alphabet agencies
• On march 12, 1933 he addressed the American people

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CONT.

• Radio chats became known as "fireside chats"
• Used them to communicate
• Also to instill confidence
• Did a lot to help the Great Depression but didn't solve it
• Wasn't out of depression until WW2

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