The Great Depression

From Wall Street to Main StreetChapter 15, section 2

I. From Wall Street to Main Street

A. Stock market crash is “localized event” with endless impact

1. crash impacted thousands—GD affects the world

The Depression Expands

B. Expanding dep. Hurts most those who knew little of the world of

speculation and buying on margin.

1. economy weakened piece by piece and lasts a decade

2. wage earners “working class” hurt the most and longest

II. The Depression Reshapes American Society

A-Poverty, hunger, homelessness spread across country

1. Hoovervilles- shanty towns built by homeless

2. The hobo life

a. hitch hiking around looking for work

b. riding the rails---moving westward

The Dust Bowl

B. Farms in crisis

1. Family farms on the auction block (excess debt)

2. South—tenant farmers and sharecroppers evicted

Dustbowl is coup d’grace—California becomes the promised land

Labor Camp…

Stress on the Family

C. Stress of poverty and uncertainty takes a toll

1. health affects w/ no access to healthcare

a. stress and diet drive disease

Photo by Dorthea Lange

Stress on the Family cont.2. families fracture under duress

a. extended families pile together for economy

Photo by Dorthea Lange

• one job per family was standard• women often fired when they got married

D. Discrimination Increases1. fierce job competition hurts minorities the most

a. last hired—first fired

b. lowest education and training levels

c. whites needed the jobs that only minorities would do

E. City Life vs. Farm Life 1. country people fared better (except the Dust Bowl)

— could feed themselves and grow extra for barter

2. city folks ate in soup kitchens, out of garbage cans, and begged on the streets

Living With the Depression

Chapter 15, section 3

Americans sticking together

• Tenant groups protest rent increases

Penny auctions aided farmers in debt

Changes in the lives of young people• Many young

people are asked (or forced ) to leave home

• Some go to live with other family members

• Many young people begin to ride the rail.

Political Reactions to the Depression

• Despite the depression, few people call for radical political change.

• Communist Party cast over 100k votes in the 1932 election

• Socialist Party members cast 880k votes in the 1932 election.

• This was the height of power for both groups.

Babe Ruth

• “Hey Babe, why do you get paid more than the President?

“I had a better year than he did”

Depression Humor• Hoover

jokes• Hoovervilles,

Hoover Blanket, Hoover Flag

• People all over the country used humor to get through the depression.

Positive Signs of Change • Good Signs• Empire State Building• Capone is convicted

of tax evasion

Signs of Change

• Bad Signs• Babe Ruth retires• Coolidge dies• Lindberg baby

kidnapped and killed.

***Prohibition is Repealed in 1933***