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Great Depression
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Hoover Presidency
To Americans in the late 1920's and early 1930's Hoover was known as the "do nothing president". This however was not completely true, Hoover had ideas on how to improve the American such as, maintaining wages and production levels and rebuilding confidence in the economic system. This wasn't enough to help the enconomy out of the massive hole it had fallen into. People lived in "Hoover-villes" which were "towns" where people lived in makeshift houses and were very poor. -
The Stock Market Crash
At the end of the roaring 20's people stopped buying as many items becuase they either didn't have any more money, or, had already bought everything new. Consumer spending went down and the amount of unsold goods rose rose and slowed production. As production slowed, fewer workers were needed and many got layed off. Throught the lack of jobs, many Americans went into debt and started getting their money out of the banks and selling their stocks. Many banks closed because they ran out of money. -
New Deal Programs
Programs like the TVA, CCC and NRA were all programs, implemented by congress, which were beneficial to the citizens, as it helped them earn a small amount of money as well as earn job experience; but the jobs they were filling were designed to also help preserve the environment and help sustain it for a better and more promising future. -
Unemployment 24.9%
In 1933, unemployment rate dropped to the lowest rate in US history. Millions were out of work. This group of people however were not out of jobs becuase they had poor work ethics or lack of talent, there simply were no jobs for them too hold. Consumerism was at an all time low so there was very little demand for production as well as little money to pay the workers who still had jobs. The Dust Bowl put many farmers out of work, from lack of production from the fields. -
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FDR Presidency
FDR's first 100 days in office had the highest concentration of laws and acts passed to help combat the Great Depression. Some examples are the New Deal, Glass-Steagall Act, FDIC, Social Security Act. FDR helped Americans out of the depression partially by these government implementations but he also brodcasted "Fireside Chats" which were radio talks done by FDR himself designed to reassure American citizens and inform them personally about what he was doing to help the country. -
The Dust Bowl
The Great Depression started for farmers a few years before most other people, however, the biggest impact on farmers came in 1933 when the Dust Bowl hit. The Dust Bowl happened becasue of uneducated farming practices. In an effort to keep up with the boom of the roaring 20's demand was increasing so to match that, the farmers greatly increased their supply. They overexhauseted the topsoil and had no wind breaks made of trees and the topsoil was not correctly cared for. -
New Deal Legacies
The Securities and Exchange Commission was created to protect investors; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and facilitate capital formation.
The Federal Housing Administration enabled a majority of Americans to become homeowners by providing insurance on mortgages.
The Social Security Act was created by Francis Townshend and it allowed elders who wanted to retire, an old age pension. As older workers vacated jobs, younger workers were able to fill the void. -
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Okie Migration
As the Dust bowl worsend for farmers over 250,000 people or all ages, genders, and backgrounds, moved from the Southwest, to California, These migrants were called "Okies" although they came from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The incentive to go the California was partly the condtions from where they came, but also the promise of a better life and job opportunities when they would reach California. -
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath about a migrant family who suffered through hardship such as death, starvation, dehydration, bordom and pessimism on their perilous journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life. This iconic literary piece gives readers a glimpse into what the life of Okies was like during the Dust Bowl; although nothing can truly show us now how the experience was impacful. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
The US remained neutral in WW2 until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. Once the US entered into the war, there was a much higher demand for weapons, machinery, food, clothes, and medical suppolies; as well as soldiers, medical workers, factory workers, and farmers. Because of this sudden increase of jobs, the unemployment rate dropped and people began spending more money. All in all, the US joining the war helped get the country out of the Depression.
