president hoover and the effects of the great depression

President Hoover and the President Hoover and the Effects of the Great DepressionEffects of the Great Depression

HooverHoover’’s Response to the Great s Response to the Great Depression, 1929-1933Depression, 1929-1933

Herbert Hoover was the President who Herbert Hoover was the President who first had to deal with the deepening first had to deal with the deepening Depression. Depression.

HooverHoover’’s Economic Plan:s Economic Plan:Restore confidence in American Restore confidence in American economy with statements: economy with statements: ““prosperity prosperity is just around the corneris just around the corner””..

Promoted programs to aid business, Promoted programs to aid business, believing once businesses recovered, believing once businesses recovered, economic benefits would trickle down economic benefits would trickle down to workers and consumers. to workers and consumers.

• Set a precedent for FDRSet a precedent for FDR’’s New s New Deal with his use of federal Deal with his use of federal works projects to create jobs works projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy.and stimulate the economy.

• Halted payment of war debts by Halted payment of war debts by European nations.European nations.• Despite these efforts, HooverDespite these efforts, Hoover’’s s refusal to provide direct relief refusal to provide direct relief damaged his image as the natiodamaged his image as the nationn’’s leader. s leader.

Poverty SpreadsPoverty SpreadsPeople of all levels of society faced hardships during the Great People of all levels of society faced hardships during the Great Depression.Depression.

Unemployed laborers, unable to pay their rent, became homeless. Unemployed laborers, unable to pay their rent, became homeless.

Sometimes the homeless built shacks of tar paper or scrap material. Sometimes the homeless built shacks of tar paper or scrap material. These shanty town settlements came to be called These shanty town settlements came to be called HoovervillesHoovervilles..

Farm families suffered from low crop prices.Farm families suffered from low crop prices.

As a result of a severe drought and farming practices that removed As a result of a severe drought and farming practices that removed protective prairie grasses, dust storms ravaged the central and protective prairie grasses, dust storms ravaged the central and southern Great Plains region. This area, stripped of its natural soil, southern Great Plains region. This area, stripped of its natural soil, was reduced to dust and became known as the was reduced to dust and became known as the Dust BowlDust Bowl..

The combination of the terrible weather and low prices caused about The combination of the terrible weather and low prices caused about 60 percent of Dust Bowl families to lose their farms.60 percent of Dust Bowl families to lose their farms.

Poverty Strains SocietyPoverty Strains Society

Some people starved and thousands went hungry.Children suffered long-term effects from poor diet and inadequate medical care.

Impact on Health

Living conditions declined as families crowded into small houses or apartments.Men felt like failures because they couldn’t provide for their families.Working women were accused of taking jobs away from men.

Stresses on Families

Competition for jobs produced a rise in hostilities against African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.Lynchings increased.Aid programs discriminated against African Americans.

Discrimination Increases

Social Effects of the Social Effects of the Depression—AssessmentDepression—Assessment

What factors contributed to disaster for farming families living in the Dust Bowl? What factors contributed to disaster for farming families living in the Dust Bowl?

(A) Drought(A) Drought

(B) Farmers plowing under prairie grasses(B) Farmers plowing under prairie grasses

(C) Decreased prices for agricultural goods(C) Decreased prices for agricultural goods

(D) All of the above(D) All of the above

The shanty towns made up of temporary shacks were called: The shanty towns made up of temporary shacks were called:

(A) Roosevilles(A) Roosevilles

(B) Hoovervilles(B) Hoovervilles

(C) Greenspans(C) Greenspans

(D) Simpson towns(D) Simpson towns

What were Hoovervilles?What were Hoovervilles?

Hooverville in Bakersfield, California Images attained at: http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/depwwii/depress/hoovers.html


Family inside the Hooverville Home


Hooverville Portland, Oregon

Fact: In 1932, 273,000 families were evicted from their homes.


Dwellers in Local Hooverville (Circleville, Ohio)


Former Skinner and Eddy Shipyard (Seatle)

What were Hoovervilles?What were Hoovervilles?Hoovervilles: families who lost their homes lived in unheated shacks built from cardboard, tin, or crates.

People slept under old newspapers called “Hoover blankets.” Others slept in city parks. People selling apples and shoelaces on the street became common sight.

Cases of malnutrition, tuberculosis, and typhoid increased, also death from starvation and suicide. Parents often went hungry giving what food they had to their children.

What was the Bonus Army?What was the Bonus Army?

Members of the Bonus Army at the Capitol, 1932

What was the Bonus Army?What was the Bonus Army?

www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm203.html

What What was the was the Bonus Bonus Army?Army?

www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm203.html

What was the Bonus Army?What was the Bonus Army?Bonus Army- 20,000 World War I veterans, who demonstrated in Washington, DC seeking immediate payment of a "bonus" they believed they had been promised.

What was the Bonus Army?What was the Bonus Army?•Hoover insisted that the veterans were influenced by Communists and other agitators. He called out the army to break up the Bonus Army’s camps and disperse the veterans.

•The news photographs showing tanks and tear gas that had been used against war veterans destroyed what little popularity Hoover had left.

Surviving the Depression

Surviving the Depression Drought and Dust

•During much of the 1930s, states from Texas to the Dakotas suffered a severe drought. Became known as the Dust Bowl.

•The Dust storms, buried farm houses and made a dark cloud. Dust blew everywhere

•Dust storms were everywhere, one blew from Oklahoma to Albany, New York.

What caused the Dust Bowl? What caused the Dust Bowl?

Years of overgrazing by cattle Years of overgrazing by cattle and plowing by farmers and plowing by farmers destroyed grasses that once destroyed grasses that once held the land in place. held the land in place.

Severe drought Severe drought

High Winds High Winds

""The land just blew away; we had to go The land just blew away; we had to go somewhere."somewhere."

-- Kansas preacher, June, 1936 -- Kansas preacher, June, 1936

Dust in the eyes of a child on a farm, 1936

Dust Bowl DaysDust Bowl DaysOn the fourteenth day of April of nineteen thirty five,On the fourteenth day of April of nineteen thirty five,

There struck the worst of dust storms that ever filled the sky:There struck the worst of dust storms that ever filled the sky:You could see that dust storm coming, You could see that dust storm coming,

the cloud looked deathlike black,the cloud looked deathlike black,And through our mighty nation, it left a dreadful track...And through our mighty nation, it left a dreadful track...

This storm took place at sundown and lasted through the night,This storm took place at sundown and lasted through the night,When we looked out this morning we saw a terrible sight:When we looked out this morning we saw a terrible sight:

We saw outside our windows where wheat fields they had grownWe saw outside our windows where wheat fields they had grownWas now a rippling ocean of dust the wind had blown.Was now a rippling ocean of dust the wind had blown.

It covered up our fences, it covered up our barns,It covered up our fences, it covered up our barns,It covered up our tractors in this wild and windy storm.It covered up our tractors in this wild and windy storm.

We loaded our jalopies and piled our families in,We loaded our jalopies and piled our families in,We rattled down the highway to never come back again.We rattled down the highway to never come back again.

— Woody Guthrie (1912-1967)— Woody Guthrie (1912-1967)From "Dust Storm Disaster"From "Dust Storm Disaster"

Escaping the Dust BowlEscaping the Dust BowlHurt poor farmers in Oklahoma and Arkansas Hurt poor farmers in Oklahoma and Arkansas the hardest. Many Okies and Arkies packed the hardest. Many Okies and Arkies packed their belongings and headed west.their belongings and headed west.

They became known as Migrant Workers who They became known as Migrant Workers who moved from one region to another in search of moved from one region to another in search of work. work.

They were not wanted, had no work, and lived They were not wanted, had no work, and lived in shacks or tents. in shacks or tents.

Migrant Migrant WorkersWorkers

Mother and child from Oklahoma, now migrants in California 1937

Refugee families encampedNear Holtville, California 1937

In 1932, there were two million homeless people moving around the country.

Riding the RailsRiding the Rails

Assessment Prompt #1Assessment Prompt #1

You should now use your notes and the You should now use your notes and the information collected from the movie to information collected from the movie to complete Assessment Prompt #1complete Assessment Prompt #1

Americans Pull TogetherAmericans Pull TogetherThroughout the country, people pulled together to Throughout the country, people pulled together to help one another.help one another.

Neighbors in difficult circumstances helped those Neighbors in difficult circumstances helped those they saw as worse off than themselves.they saw as worse off than themselves.

When banks foreclosed on a farm, neighboring When banks foreclosed on a farm, neighboring farmers would bid pennies on land and machines, farmers would bid pennies on land and machines, which they would then return to the original owners. which they would then return to the original owners. These sales became known as These sales became known as penny auctionspenny auctions..

Some Americans called for radical political and Some Americans called for radical political and economic change. They believed that a fairer economic change. They believed that a fairer distribution of wealth would help to end the hard distribution of wealth would help to end the hard times.times.

Jokes and humor helped many people to fight Jokes and humor helped many people to fight everyday despair. everyday despair.

In February 1933, Congress passed the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the eighteenth amendment prohibiting the sale of alcohol.

Prohibition Is Repealed

2,500 to 4,000 people worked on the construction. The cost of construction was about $41 million.At that time, it was the world’s tallest building and had 102 stories and 67 elevators.

The Empire State Building

Many things that symbolized the 1920s faded away.

- Organized crime gangster Al Capone was sent to prison.

- Calvin Coolidge died.- Babe Ruth retired.

The End of an Era

Signs of ChangeSigns of Change

““The only thing we have to fear The only thing we have to fear is fear itselfis fear itself””

“Our greatest primary task is to put people to work”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Three R’sThe Three R’s

ReliefRelief – Immediate action taken to halt the – Immediate action taken to halt the economy’s deterioration.economy’s deterioration.

RecoveryRecovery – "Pump - Priming" Temporary – "Pump - Priming" Temporary programs to restart the flow of consumer programs to restart the flow of consumer demand.demand.

ReformReform – Permanent programs to avoid – Permanent programs to avoid another depression and insure citizens another depression and insure citizens against economic disasters.against economic disasters.

Surviving the Great Surviving the Great Depression—AssessmentDepression—Assessment

What was a penny auction?What was a penny auction?

(A)(A) An event at which stocks once highly valued were auctioned off for a penny.An event at which stocks once highly valued were auctioned off for a penny.

(B)(B) An event at which laborers eager for work auctioned off their labor for pennies.An event at which laborers eager for work auctioned off their labor for pennies.

(C)(C) An event at which neighbors, in an effort to help each other, auctioned their An event at which neighbors, in an effort to help each other, auctioned their spare rooms for a penny.spare rooms for a penny.

(D)(D) An event at which neighboring farmers bid pennies on land and machines, An event at which neighboring farmers bid pennies on land and machines, which the buyers then returned to the original owners.which the buyers then returned to the original owners.

Which of the following did not symbolize an end to the prosperity of the 1920s? Which of the following did not symbolize an end to the prosperity of the 1920s?

(A)(A) Al Capone went to jail.Al Capone went to jail.

(B)(B) Babe Ruth retired. Babe Ruth retired.

(C)(C) Riots and political upheaval erupted in the nation’s cities.Riots and political upheaval erupted in the nation’s cities.

(D)(D) Calvin Coolidge died.Calvin Coolidge died.


You should now use your notes and the You should now use your notes and the information collected from the movie to information collected from the movie to complete Assessment Prompt #2complete Assessment Prompt #2

Hoover’s Limited StrategyHoover’s Limited StrategyHoover convinced business leaders to help maintain public Hoover convinced business leaders to help maintain public confidence in the economy.confidence in the economy.

To protect domestic industries, Congress passed the To protect domestic industries, Congress passed the Hawley-Smoot Hawley-Smoot tarifftariff, the highest import tax in history. European countries also , the highest import tax in history. European countries also raised their tariffs, and international trade suffered a slowdown.raised their tariffs, and international trade suffered a slowdown.

Hoover set up the Hoover set up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), , which gave government credit to banks, industries, railroads, and which gave government credit to banks, industries, railroads, and insurance companies. The theory was that prosperity at the top insurance companies. The theory was that prosperity at the top would help the economy as a whole. Many Americans saw it as would help the economy as a whole. Many Americans saw it as helping bankers and big businessmen, while ordinary people went helping bankers and big businessmen, while ordinary people went hungry.hungry.

Hoover did not support federal public assistance because he Hoover did not support federal public assistance because he believed it would destroy people’s self-respect and create a large believed it would destroy people’s self-respect and create a large bureaucracy.bureaucracy.

Finally, public opinion soured for Hoover when he called the United Finally, public opinion soured for Hoover when he called the United States Army to disband a protest of 20,000 unemployed World War I States Army to disband a protest of 20,000 unemployed World War I veterans called the veterans called the Bonus ArmyBonus Army. .

A “New Deal” for AmericaA “New Deal” for AmericaFDR promised a New Deal for the American people.FDR promised a New Deal for the American people.

He was ready to experiment with government roles He was ready to experiment with government roles in an effort to end the Depression.in an effort to end the Depression.

As governor of New York, Roosevelt had set up an As governor of New York, Roosevelt had set up an unemployment commission and a relief agency.unemployment commission and a relief agency.

FDR’s wife, Eleanor, was an experienced social FDR’s wife, Eleanor, was an experienced social reformer. She worked for public housing legislation, reformer. She worked for public housing legislation, state government reform, birth control, and better state government reform, birth control, and better conditions for working women.conditions for working women.

When the Roosevelts campaigned for the When the Roosevelts campaigned for the presidency, they brought their ideas for political presidency, they brought their ideas for political action with thaction with them.em.

The Election of 1932The Election of 1932Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover Believed that federal Believed that federal

government should not try government should not try to fix people’s problems.to fix people’s problems.

Argued that federal aid Argued that federal aid and government policies and government policies to help the poor would to help the poor would alter the foundation of our alter the foundation of our national life.national life.

He argued for voluntary He argued for voluntary aid to help the poor and aid to help the poor and argued against giving the argued against giving the national government more national government more power.power.

Hoover gave very few Hoover gave very few campaign speeches and campaign speeches and was jeered by crowds.was jeered by crowds.

Franklin RooseveltFranklin Roosevelt Believed that government Believed that government

had a responsibility to help had a responsibility to help people in need.people in need.

Called for a reappraisal of Called for a reappraisal of values and more controls on values and more controls on big business.big business.

Helped many Americans Helped many Americans reassess the importance of reassess the importance of “making it on their own” “making it on their own” without any help.without any help.

Much of his support came Much of his support came from urban workers, coal from urban workers, coal miners, and immigrants in miners, and immigrants in need of federal relief.need of federal relief.

Roosevelt won 57 percent of Roosevelt won 57 percent of the popular vote and almost the popular vote and almost 89 percent of the electoral 89 percent of the electoral vote.vote.

The Election of 1932—The Election of 1932—AssessmentAssessment

What was one way President Hoover wanted to battle the Depression?What was one way President Hoover wanted to battle the Depression?

(A)(A) Federal relief programsFederal relief programs

(B)(B) U.S. expansion into foreign marketsU.S. expansion into foreign markets

(C)(C) Stock market investmentStock market investment

(D)(D) Voluntary aidVoluntary aid

Roosevelt won public support from which groups? Roosevelt won public support from which groups?

(A)(A) Urban workers and coal minersUrban workers and coal miners

(B)(B) Big business executivesBig business executives

(C)(C) Supporters of international tradeSupporters of international trade

(D)(D) Journalists and newspaper publishersJournalists and newspaper publishers


You should now use your notes to You should now use your notes to complete Assessment Prompt #3complete Assessment Prompt #3

president hoover and the effects of the great depression

Documents

great depression slide

farming families

percent of dust bowl

families competition

farm families

dust storms

shanty towns

discrimination increases