The Great Depression

1929-39

Section One: Introduction

Connections to the Curriculum

How involved should the government be in the quest for economic, social, and political justice for all?

Connections to the Curriculum

● The New Deal-major turning point in American history ● First time federal gov’t was so involved in everyday life● Roosevelt and the New Dealers tried to directly help as

many people as conservatives in Congress and the Supreme Court would permit

● Failed to end the Depression.● Surge in demand for war munitions, ships, tanks, and

airplanes ended the depression

Factors Leading Up to the Depression

● Buying on margin● Overproduction in factories/on farms● Income inequality

○ The 1% owned more than ⅓ of the nation’s wealth

● War debt & European depressions

Section Two: Hardships in Everyday

Life

Breadlines & Soup Kitchens

● People formed breadlines outside of soup kitchens, in order to receive free meals

“If you happened to be one of the first ones in line, you didn’t get anything but water that was on top. So we’d ask the guy that was ladling out soup into the buckets-everyone had to bring their own bucket-he’d dip the grease, watery stuff on top. So we’d ask him to please dip down to get some meat and potatoes from the bottom of the kettle. But he wouldn’t do it.” -Peggy Terry, OK

Hoovervilles

● People were evicted from their homes○ Belongings strewn out onto the streets

● Newly homeless formed Hoovervilles (shantytowns)○ How does the name of these places

reflect on President Herbert Hoover?

Hoovervilles

Hoovervilles cont’d

Migrants & Riding the Rails

● Many Americans (esp. boys & young men) wander in search of jobs and a better life.

● Wanderers snuck onto freight trains in order to move from place to place.

Migrants & Riding the Rails

The Dust Bowl

● Due to drought, soil started turning to dust.

● From North Dakota to Texas, became known as the Dust Bowl.

● Black skies● Dust piled up like snow

○ Buried crops and livestock● Many migrated to CA

The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl

Section Three: Entertainment as an

Escape from Everyday Life

The Movies

Escaping Through Film

● Many Americans sought to escape their misery through film

New Celebrities

Marlene Dietrich Greta Garbo

Groucho Marx

● American comedian and actor

The Radio

Radio

● People listened to○ The President○ Newcasters○ Comedians○ Daytime radio dramas

■ Shows sponsors often made laundry soap. What might these shows have become?

Art & Literature

Art

● American Gothic● Rise in photojournalism

Literature

● John Steinbeck○ The Grapes of Wrath○ Of Mice and Men

Section Four: Hoover’s Response

Hoover’s Response to the Big Crash

● Stock Market crashed on 10/24/29○ Known as Black Thursday

● Hoover’s response was:○ “Industry is on a sound and prosperous

basis...and the effects of the crash...will have passed in the next 60 days.”

Public Works

● Hoover increased public works○ Gov’t funded building projects○ Roads, bridges, parks, etc.

● As a result, there was a slight increase in jobs

Gov’t Spending

● Hoover refused to increase gov’t spending● Who would pay for public works?

○ Can’t increase taxes○ Can’t borrow from banks

Helping Citizens

● Hoover was a Conservative○ Gov’t should stay out of people’s lives

● Believed the state and local gov’ts should provide relief

The Public Reacts

● Looting stores● Hunger marches● Farmers burned crops● Bonus Army march

Section Five: FDR and the New Deal

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

● Governor of NY● Democrat● FDR’s plan was to “experiment” or “try

something”

The New Deal

● Roosevelt’s policies for ending the Depression

● Hundred Days (March 9-June 16 1933)○ FDR’s first 100 days in

office○ Congress passed 15 major

acts to help the economic crisis

The New Deal Today

● Tennessee Valley Authority● Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

(FDIC)● Social Security

Roosevelt’s Cabinet

● Diverse, disagreed with one another○ Wanted various viewpoints

● Grew up during the Progressive Era○ Wanted gov’t involvement in people’s

lives

Eleanor Roosevelt

● Influential First Lady○ Changed the black and

women’s votes○ Black Cabinet○ First female cabinet

member○ Native American support

Section Six: Opposition to the

New Deal

Opposition to the New Deal

Conservatives- Federal gov’t had too much power & was too involved in people’s lives

Liberals-The New Deal did not do enough.