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Historical Study:Historical Study: The Great Depression and The Great Depression and

The Dust BowlThe Dust BowlTenth Grade Literature and CompositionTenth Grade Literature and Composition

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The Dust Bowl and The Great The Dust Bowl and The Great DepressionDepression

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IntroductionIntroduction

How did The How did The Great Depression Great Depression affect America?affect America?

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Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion The “Roaring Twenties”The “Roaring Twenties” The economy in the late 1920sThe economy in the late 1920s The Stock Market CrashThe Stock Market Crash The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl The lives of Migrant WorkersThe lives of Migrant Workers

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The “Roaring Twenties”The “Roaring Twenties”

The first topic we will The first topic we will cover is the decade cover is the decade called the “roaring called the “roaring twenties”. twenties”.

Let’s check out the Let’s check out the poster…poster…

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The Roaring 1920’s!!!The Roaring 1920’s!!! First shopping mall builtFirst shopping mall built First fast food chain, A&W Root BeerFirst fast food chain, A&W Root Beer Appliances were being massed produced—radios, Appliances were being massed produced—radios,

washing machines, telephones, carswashing machines, telephones, cars Companies spend $1.5 billion on advertising in 1927Companies spend $1.5 billion on advertising in 1927 FordFord built his automobile empire built his automobile empire People began to buy things on creditPeople began to buy things on credit Business were booming!Business were booming!

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Contrast the men and women in these two Contrast the men and women in these two drawings. drawings.

What makes them different?What makes them different?

Victorian WomanVictorian Woman Jazz Age Jazz Age WomanWoman

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The Economy of the Late The Economy of the Late 1920s1920s

““Everybody ought to be rich”Everybody ought to be rich” 200 large companies controlled 49% of 200 large companies controlled 49% of

all American industryall American industry Too many goods, not enough demandToo many goods, not enough demand Farm prices fell after WWIFarm prices fell after WWI Farmers not able to repay their debtsFarmers not able to repay their debts

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The Stock Market CrashThe Stock Market Crash Stocks hit all-time highs in September of 1929Stocks hit all-time highs in September of 1929 In October, stocks began to fallIn October, stocks began to fall Ex. General Electric stocks bought for $400 sold Ex. General Electric stocks bought for $400 sold

for $283for $283 Black TuesdayBlack Tuesday—16.4 million shares sold, —16.4 million shares sold,

compared to average of 4 millioncompared to average of 4 million This collapse of the stock market is known as the This collapse of the stock market is known as the

Great CrashGreat Crash

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Why did the market crash?Why did the market crash? Many people bought stocks on margin—like a loanMany people bought stocks on margin—like a loan Companies lied about their profits—remember Companies lied about their profits—remember

Enron?Enron? Economies like ours go through natural “boom” and Economies like ours go through natural “boom” and

“bust” cycles“bust” cycles Republican Presidents believed in laissez faire—no Republican Presidents believed in laissez faire—no

control on businessescontrol on businesses Stock market was not regulated by governmentStock market was not regulated by government

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The Stock Market CrashThe Stock Market CrashFrom Riches to RuinFrom Riches to Ruin

Many wealthy families lost everythingMany wealthy families lost everything Some even committed suicideSome even committed suicide Millions of people who never owned a single stock lost Millions of people who never owned a single stock lost

their jobs, farms and homestheir jobs, farms and homes The crash triggered a much wider, long term crisis known The crash triggered a much wider, long term crisis known

as the Great Depressionas the Great Depression The Depression lasted from 1929 to 1941 when America The Depression lasted from 1929 to 1941 when America

entered WWIIentered WWII The Depression had a ripple effect that hurt the economies The Depression had a ripple effect that hurt the economies

of other countriesof other countries

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Unemployment 1925-1933

02468

101214

1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932

Year

Unem

ploy

ed (i

n m

illio

ns)

How many people were unemployed in 1925? In 1929? In 1932?

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Stock Prices 1925-1933

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1015202530

1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

Year

Aver

age

Mont

ly V

alue

$

Great Crash

What was the average stock value in 1929? 1932?

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Bank Suspensions 1925-1933

0

1

2

3

4

5

1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933

Year

Num

ber o

f Sus

pens

ions

(in

thou

sand

s)

How many banks were suspended in 1925? In 1933?

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A Dust Storm in Eastern A Dust Storm in Eastern ColoradoColorado

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Another Dust StormAnother Dust Storm

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A father and his two sons A father and his two sons seek shelter from a dust seek shelter from a dust

stormstorm

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Sand covering a Sand covering a farm after a dust farm after a dust

stormstorm

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An abandoned farm in An abandoned farm in Kansas.Kansas.

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A collage of newspaper A collage of newspaper headlines from the Dust headlines from the Dust

BowlBowl

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A man in the midst of a dust A man in the midst of a dust stormstorm

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The Dust Bowl- 1930sThe Dust Bowl- 1930s The Great Plains region—N. & S. Dakota, Nebraska, The Great Plains region—N. & S. Dakota, Nebraska,

Colorado, Kansas Oklahoma and northern TexasColorado, Kansas Oklahoma and northern Texas Farmers plow the plains, eliminating the protective Farmers plow the plains, eliminating the protective

layer of grasslayer of grass Wheat replaces grass—tractors make it much easierWheat replaces grass—tractors make it much easier Severe droughtSevere drought High windsHigh winds Layers of top soil blown away, leaving dunes of grit Layers of top soil blown away, leaving dunes of grit

and sandand sand

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A family in a “lean-to” tentA family in a “lean-to” tent

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Escaping the “Black Escaping the “Black Blizzard”Blizzard”

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Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers As the "double whammy" of drought and depression As the "double whammy" of drought and depression

deepened on the Great Plains, more and more farmers deepened on the Great Plains, more and more farmers gave up or were forced off of their land. gave up or were forced off of their land.

In addition, the relentless march of new tractors In addition, the relentless march of new tractors meant that the farmers who were able to scrape meant that the farmers who were able to scrape together enough money to buy a tractor could buy out together enough money to buy a tractor could buy out their neighbors. their neighbors.

Fewer farmers could farm more land. But where Fewer farmers could farm more land. But where would those who left go? would those who left go?

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These boots are made for These boots are made for walkin’walkin’

Some went to cities. But many decided to head west.Some went to cities. But many decided to head west. During the 30s hundreds of thousands left the plains During the 30s hundreds of thousands left the plains

for the West Coast. So many migrated from for the West Coast. So many migrated from Oklahoma that they were dubbed "Okies" in the Oklahoma that they were dubbed "Okies" in the popular press. popular press.

For years, California, Oregon and Washington had For years, California, Oregon and Washington had been growing. Many who were pushed off of the been growing. Many who were pushed off of the plains were pulled west because they had relatives plains were pulled west because they had relatives who had moved to the coastal areas which offered a who had moved to the coastal areas which offered a perfect climate and an abundance of work in the perfect climate and an abundance of work in the agricultural industry. agricultural industry.

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A family trying to escape the A family trying to escape the dust bowldust bowl

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Connection to Connection to Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen

Clinging to each other in Clinging to each other in their loneliness and their loneliness and alienation, George and his alienation, George and his simple-minded friend simple-minded friend Lennie dream, as drifters Lennie dream, as drifters will, of a place to call their will, of a place to call their own. But after they come to own. But after they come to work on a ranch in the work on a ranch in the Salinas Valley their hopes, Salinas Valley their hopes, like "the best laid schemes like "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men," begin to o' mice an' men," begin to go awry. go awry.

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The EndThe End