The Great Depression

Hard Times

The Dust Bowl

• Many farmers go bankrupt because they had taken out loans to buy faming machinery and land, and cannot pay bank loans.

• Banks take over the farms.

• The Dust Bowl during the twenties was partly due to plowing & grazing:

• Farmers would rip off the top layer of grass that protects the soil and not replant the grass; this overuse of soil makes it infertile.

• There is a drought = little or not rain, which causes wells & water holes to dry up.

• The winds pick up the dry soil and create giant dust clouds = dust storms

• A dust storm could last for days, forcing people to stay inside

and stuff rags into any openings to keep out dirt.

• Dust could become so thick, it would block out the sun.• So many farmers migrated (moved) to California to

find work.

• In 1932, 12 million Americans are unemployed.

• By winter of 1932, 1 out of 4 people are out of work.

• Even schools closed because of the loss of income from people and businesses that were unable to pay their taxes.

• Many children were forced to quit school so they could

go to work to help support their families.

African Americans are hurt them most because:

• They are victims of prejudice • They lived in tenements• They face bigotry – the attitude and behavior of

narrow minded people• Some were denied government assistance.

• Hundreds of people would go to Employment Agencies every day, but there was not work.

An apple a day…

• A boom in apple crops gave the homeless people a chance to make some money by selling the apples for 5 cents or less.

• Non-union workers were left with no financial protection.

• Employment agencies would only allow one family member to work at a time.

• Millions of people had to accept part time work for very little money.

Families were starved, so they would stand

in line to get free bread and soup.

• Shanty towns of homeless unemployed men were called Hoovervilles, named after President Herbert Hoover.

Men hit hardest (ones with family) had to choose between:

• Selling apples on street corners

• Taking to the road as hobos

• Seeking relief at public shelters and breadlines