Great Depression DECADE OF POVERTY 1929 Stock Market - American economy had been deteriorating for several years Government had a practice of not interfering with business practices in any way at the time of the Stock Market crash

During the first two years of the Depression: 25 percent of people wanting to work could not find work Stock market lost 80 percent of its value 13 million people lost their jobs The price of farms fell 53 percent Thousands of banks closed because people panicked and withdrew their money Half of the American people lived below the “subsistence level” (they had less money than needed to pay for food and shelter)

The Depression Continues  Millions of people went hungry and lost their homes  Highways and cites became crowded with homeless who often built “HOOTERVILLES” – Hootervilles were communities that were scooped out underground shelters covered by sheets of tin in which to live.  Once wealthy business men business men jumped from high buildings to their deaths rather than living with nothing.  There was no Social Security benefits to support people financially

Emotional Depression - Desperation Lack of physical needs caused emotional depression in millions of people The poor were extremely destitute As is common when people are desperate, they look to someone to blame – regardless of what the truth is, the blame turns to hatred and fear One result of the misery in America during the Depression was the uprising of the KU KLUX KLAN

Depression Affecting Family Life People made due with less Clothing was passes down from one child to another Most people were grateful from someone else’s hand-me-downs – clothing, shoes, toys, furniture Toys were handmade People planted vegetable gardens, raised chickens for meat and eggs, Those with no homes, ate in soup kitchens or worked for meals, if they could find odd jobs.