THE 1930sTHE 1930s

The Desperate YearsThe Desperate Years

Causes of the Great Depression

-distribution of income

-stock market speculation

-international trade barriers

-mechanization of industry

-lassiez-faire government policies

-lack of diversification

Suffering Caused By the Depression

-25% to 33% unemployment

-25% underemployment

-national income cut 50%

-85,000 business closed

-400,000 farm families lost their farms

-25% US banks closed

-

Suffering (continued)

-the Dust Bowl; a ten year drought in the Great Plains

-millions homeless, hungry, many of them children

-many men deserted their families

-no unemployment available

-psychological impact; depression suicides tripled

-women and minorities laid off first

-school systems went bankrupt and closed schools

-desperation drove many WWI veterans to join the

Bonus Army

Oklahoma farms during the Dust Bowl

A home in a Hooverville in

Washington, D.C.

Camp of the Bonus Army, Washington D.C.

How Did the Government Respond?President Herbert Hoover was blamed for the Depression

-tried to help the people by helping business

-gov’t building projects like Hoover Dam

-loans to businesses; Reconstruction Finance Corp.

-believed all welfare payments hurt the self respect

of all who received it

-President was often seen as uncaring

- “Hoovervilles”, “Hoover Blankets”

Herbert Hoover Franklin Delano Roosevelt

FDR: President Franklin D. Roosevelt

-elected in a landslide in 1932; promised a “New Deal”

-famous inauguration speech, “All we have to fear…”

-upbeat personality, hid his disability

-Eleanor Roosevelt changed the role of the First Lady

-FDR’s initial changes:the Bank Holiday

Fireside chats

The Depression Continued…Minority groups suffered disproportionately

- 50%+ unemployment

-the Black Shirts of Atlanta

-the Scottsboro Case

Chicanos and Native Americans treated as badly as Blacks

Escapism became important to Americans in 1930s

-radio shows; ‘Amos and Andy’, Dick Tracy”

-upbeat movies

- hit novel of the decade; “Gone With the Wind”

Movie poster for the

Re-release of

“Gone With the Wind” and a photo of Hattie McDaniel as

“Mammy”