The Great The Great DepressionDepression

Georgia CTAE Resource Network

Instructional Resources Office

Written by: Amanda Supra and Frank Flanders

July 2009

ObjectivesObjectives

Students should review the slides Students should review the slides and be able to:and be able to: Interpret what the significance of each Interpret what the significance of each

photograph isphotograph is Understand how the Great Depression Understand how the Great Depression

affected peopleaffected people Give examples of how people tried to Give examples of how people tried to

live during this timelive during this time Discuss how the government helped Discuss how the government helped

during the Great Depressionduring the Great DepressionNext Slide

Note to the teacher:Note to the teacher:

This slide set contains historical This slide set contains historical photographs from the Great Depression. photographs from the Great Depression. Students should interpret the photos and Students should interpret the photos and explain what they see in each one.explain what they see in each one.

There is also an attached worksheet for There is also an attached worksheet for students to use while following along with students to use while following along with the power point.the power point.

In each of these slides have students In each of these slides have students compare and contrast America’s economic compare and contrast America’s economic situation of today to the Great Depression.situation of today to the Great Depression.

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UnemploymentUnemployment During the Great Depression, many people During the Great Depression, many people

faced losing their jobs because of various faced losing their jobs because of various reasons and found it very hard to find a reasons and found it very hard to find a replacement job to support their familiesreplacement job to support their families

The unemployment rate jumped to a The unemployment rate jumped to a record 24.9% during the Great Depressionrecord 24.9% during the Great Depression

This put 1 in 4 Americans out of work, to This put 1 in 4 Americans out of work, to lose their homes, possessions, and farms.lose their homes, possessions, and farms.

In this picture, notice how the two men In this picture, notice how the two men are wearing signs exclaiming that they are wearing signs exclaiming that they need a job to support their families.need a job to support their families.

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Farm Foreclosure SalesFarm Foreclosure Sales During the 1920’s, many farmers borrowed During the 1920’s, many farmers borrowed

money from banks to purchase land or money from banks to purchase land or equipmentequipment

During the Great Depression, many farmers During the Great Depression, many farmers couldn’t make their payments to the banks couldn’t make their payments to the banks and eventually had their land taken away and eventually had their land taken away from them.from them.

The banks would then try to sell the farms to The banks would then try to sell the farms to others at a very low, discounted rate.others at a very low, discounted rate.

In this image, there are many townspeople In this image, there are many townspeople out to watch the foreclosure sale. Many of out to watch the foreclosure sale. Many of them were unable to purchase the farm, them were unable to purchase the farm, even though it was at such a low price.even though it was at such a low price.

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Employment AgenciesEmployment Agencies

Many people turned to trying to find Many people turned to trying to find jobs at employment agenciesjobs at employment agencies

However, there were so many However, there were so many people looking for work that people people looking for work that people had to stand out in long lines just to had to stand out in long lines just to get a chance to get one of the jobs.get a chance to get one of the jobs.

Here, men are standing outside of an Here, men are standing outside of an employment agency hoping to get in employment agency hoping to get in to possibly find a job.to possibly find a job.

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Political Cartoons: “The Political Cartoons: “The Philanthropist”Philanthropist”

The Great Depression had affected many people, The Great Depression had affected many people, causing up to 25% of the job force to lose their causing up to 25% of the job force to lose their jobs.jobs.

During this time, many people turned to other During this time, many people turned to other ways to make money.ways to make money.

One way that people were able to make money One way that people were able to make money was to sell apples on the street, often trying to was to sell apples on the street, often trying to sell the items to those who seemed “better off” sell the items to those who seemed “better off” than they were. than they were.

Some people who weren’t in that predicament Some people who weren’t in that predicament felt pity for apple sellers and would sometimes felt pity for apple sellers and would sometimes spend their money just so they could “feel a little spend their money just so they could “feel a little bit better about themselves”.bit better about themselves”.

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Donations for the Donations for the UnemployedUnemployed

People are standing outside of a food People are standing outside of a food bank offering free doughnuts and bank offering free doughnuts and coffee to the unemployedcoffee to the unemployed

Many types of food kitchens and Many types of food kitchens and food banks popped up to helpfood banks popped up to help

This particular soup kitchen was This particular soup kitchen was sponsored by the Chicago gangster, sponsored by the Chicago gangster, Al Capone.Al Capone.

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Soup KitchensSoup Kitchens

Soup kitchens were set up for people who Soup kitchens were set up for people who were unable to afford food.were unable to afford food.

Many times, soup kitchens were Many times, soup kitchens were established by philanthropists (a generous established by philanthropists (a generous person who donates to promote human person who donates to promote human welfare) who wanted to donate and help welfare) who wanted to donate and help out the needy.out the needy.

The easiest and least expensive food to The easiest and least expensive food to make was soup – which became a staple make was soup – which became a staple in these food lines for people to get.in these food lines for people to get.

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Irony Behind the Irony Behind the BreadlineBreadline

Prior to the Great Depression, the Prior to the Great Depression, the standard of living in the United States standard of living in the United States was soaring.was soaring.

During this time, people were During this time, people were unconcerned about money because a lot unconcerned about money because a lot of things, such as food, were cheap and of things, such as food, were cheap and plentiful.plentiful.

When the Great Depression came, When the Great Depression came, everything changed and people had to everything changed and people had to deal with a much lower standard of living.deal with a much lower standard of living.

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Political Cartoons: “1929 Political Cartoons: “1929 vs. Today”vs. Today”

Many people are comparing what Many people are comparing what happened in the Great Depression to happened in the Great Depression to what happened in the recession of what happened in the recession of 2009.2009.

This political cartoon suggests how This political cartoon suggests how modern recessions are similar to modern recessions are similar to what happened in 1929.what happened in 1929.

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Schools During the Great Schools During the Great DepressionDepression

Children were finding it hard to stay in Children were finding it hard to stay in school, usually dropping out to sell school, usually dropping out to sell newspapers on the street or shine shoes.newspapers on the street or shine shoes.

Many rural school teachers didn’t have much Many rural school teachers didn’t have much education – usually only a high school education – usually only a high school diploma.diploma.

During this time, salaries of school teachers During this time, salaries of school teachers were also cut drastically, making it hard for were also cut drastically, making it hard for some school teachers to live comfortably. some school teachers to live comfortably. Many school teachers would actually live in Many school teachers would actually live in the school house.the school house.

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Christmas During the Great Christmas During the Great DepressionDepression

Since people were worrying about serious Since people were worrying about serious things, such as being able to feed their things, such as being able to feed their families, Christmas gifts became less families, Christmas gifts became less important.important.

The most some families got for Christmas The most some families got for Christmas was a freshly-baked cake. And maybe, if was a freshly-baked cake. And maybe, if they were lucky, a small Christmas tree.they were lucky, a small Christmas tree.

Just being able to eat a decent dinner was Just being able to eat a decent dinner was what many families had as a Christmas what many families had as a Christmas present.present.

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The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl intensified problems during The Dust Bowl intensified problems during

the Great Depression for farms in the the Great Depression for farms in the Southern Plains (1930-1936).Southern Plains (1930-1936).

The land was left bare and dusty due to the The land was left bare and dusty due to the overgrazing, excessive farming, and drought.overgrazing, excessive farming, and drought.

When the drought came, the over farmed When the drought came, the over farmed and overgrazed land began to blow away and overgrazed land began to blow away because of strong winds through the region.because of strong winds through the region.

The dust storms were so heavy that The dust storms were so heavy that sometimes families would look through the sometimes families would look through the windows of their homes and only see black windows of their homes and only see black dust clouds.dust clouds.

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Train HoppersTrain Hoppers At the height of the Great Depression, there At the height of the Great Depression, there

were more than 250,000 hobos roaming were more than 250,000 hobos roaming around the United States.around the United States.

To alleviate the hardships on their families, To alleviate the hardships on their families, many young teenaged boys would leave many young teenaged boys would leave their families and become “train hoppers”. their families and become “train hoppers”. With great sadness, many young men left With great sadness, many young men left home so the limited food supply could be home so the limited food supply could be used for their siblings and parents.used for their siblings and parents.

They would illegally ride on the trains so They would illegally ride on the trains so that they could ride to somewhere new that that they could ride to somewhere new that would possibly have an opportunity of a job would possibly have an opportunity of a job for them.for them.

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Walking to CaliforniaWalking to California

During the Great Depression, many During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs and their people lost their jobs and their homes and other possessions.homes and other possessions.

Many people became homeless and Many people became homeless and traveled West, trying to find jobs in traveled West, trying to find jobs in places like California.places like California.

The homeless would live in tent The homeless would live in tent cities, often called shantytowns or cities, often called shantytowns or Hoovervilles.Hoovervilles.

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““Okies” Travel to Okies” Travel to CaliforniaCalifornia

During the Great Depression, there During the Great Depression, there was a large migration of Oklahomans was a large migration of Oklahomans to the Western states.to the Western states.

Oklahoma was drastically affected by Oklahoma was drastically affected by the Dust Bowl – in addition to the the Dust Bowl – in addition to the depression.depression.

A common destination for Oklahomans A common destination for Oklahomans was California and Arizona.was California and Arizona.

Those states then coined the phrase Those states then coined the phrase “Okie” denoting any poor person who “Okie” denoting any poor person who came to their state looking for a job.came to their state looking for a job.Next Slide

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Migrant MotherMigrant Mother

This is one of the most famous of the This is one of the most famous of the depression era photographs.depression era photographs.

The “Migrant Mother” photo captures the The “Migrant Mother” photo captures the hopelessness of the Great Depression.hopelessness of the Great Depression.

Other words to describe this scene may be:Other words to describe this scene may be:

HopelessHopeless DiscouragedDiscouraged DepressedDepressed

DejectedDejected DemoralizedDemoralized DespondentDespondent

DiscouragedDiscouraged DesperateDesperate Down-Down-heartedhearted

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Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers

A large portion of migrants were from A large portion of migrants were from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri.Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Once they traveled across the United Once they traveled across the United States, they would find themselves settling States, they would find themselves settling in little towns made up of others who had in little towns made up of others who had migrated.migrated.

In this picture, a woman is standing in one In this picture, a woman is standing in one of these towns with her two young children of these towns with her two young children as her husband is out trying to find a job.as her husband is out trying to find a job.

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Squatter’s ShackSquatter’s Shack

Many people migrating to find jobs Many people migrating to find jobs settled in squatter camps.settled in squatter camps.

This image is of a squatter shack on This image is of a squatter shack on land that did not belong to the land that did not belong to the people who lived in the shack.people who lived in the shack.

Often times, squatters lived in Often times, squatters lived in abandoned warehouses or buildings.abandoned warehouses or buildings.

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Political Cartoons: “Helping Political Cartoons: “Helping Uncle Fish”Uncle Fish”

Many politicians were trying to find ways to help Many politicians were trying to find ways to help fix the Great Depression.fix the Great Depression.

During this time, there were many radical ideas During this time, there were many radical ideas that were new to the time, such as pensions to that were new to the time, such as pensions to citizens over the age of 65, to giving monthly citizens over the age of 65, to giving monthly payments to families to help relieve their payments to families to help relieve their hardships.hardships.

President FDR decided on something more President FDR decided on something more moderate, called the New Deal, which focused on moderate, called the New Deal, which focused on the “Three R’s”: Relief, Recovery, and Reform.the “Three R’s”: Relief, Recovery, and Reform.

In this political cartoon, it shows Uncle Sam In this political cartoon, it shows Uncle Sam trying to grab onto the New Deal while others trying to grab onto the New Deal while others are trying to distract him with the other radical are trying to distract him with the other radical ideas of reform. ideas of reform.

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Civilian Conservation Civilian Conservation Corps. – Planting TreesCorps. – Planting Trees

The New Deal established the The New Deal established the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC)Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC)

This organization focused primarily This organization focused primarily on conservation of natural resourceson conservation of natural resources

The CCC helped by providing jobs The CCC helped by providing jobs for the unemployed.for the unemployed.

In this image, men were employed In this image, men were employed by the CCC to plant trees.by the CCC to plant trees.

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Civilian Conservation Civilian Conservation Corps. – Brick LayingCorps. – Brick Laying

Members of the CCC lived in camps Members of the CCC lived in camps under a quasi-military environment.under a quasi-military environment.

Common projects including building Common projects including building roads, hospitals, government roads, hospitals, government buildings, etc.buildings, etc.

Here, men are being paid to build a Here, men are being paid to build a brick road.brick road.

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Resettlement Resettlement Administration: Rural Administration: Rural

RehabilitationRehabilitation Between 1935 and 1936, another Between 1935 and 1936, another

organization was created called the organization was created called the Resettlement Administration.Resettlement Administration.

Their main priority was to relocate Their main priority was to relocate struggling families to communities struggling families to communities created by the federal government.created by the federal government.

In this image, it shows one of the In this image, it shows one of the projects funded through the projects funded through the administration -- making weaved administration -- making weaved baskets.baskets.

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SummarySummary The Great Depression was the most serious The Great Depression was the most serious

economic period of modern times.economic period of modern times. The economic recession of 2009 has many The economic recession of 2009 has many

parallels with the Great Depression.parallels with the Great Depression. The faces, sights, and feelings of the Great The faces, sights, and feelings of the Great

Depression were captured in photography.Depression were captured in photography. The effects of the Great Depression were The effects of the Great Depression were

intensified by the Dust Bowl.intensified by the Dust Bowl. With no jobs and no home, many people With no jobs and no home, many people

migrated for other areas in search of migrated for other areas in search of prosperity.prosperity.