The Great Depression Review of causes of The Great Depression Images of The Great Depression (group project)

Causes of The Great Depression Stock Market crash - Black Thursday. Increasing drought in the south leading to agricultural failure. Lack of response from federal leaders (Pres. Hoover)

Stock Market Crash Stock prices had continued to climb in 1920’s. Most investors took out loans to participate in the stock exchange. By 1929 the total American debt was 8 BILLION dollars.

Stock Market Prices in 1920’s

Consumer Borrowing in the 1920’s

Stock Market Crash Oct 24, 1929 became known as “Black Thursday”. Stock prices fell, many literally became worthless. Frantic trading couldn’t prevent millions of people loosing millions of dollars.

Drought Destroys Agriculture Continued lack of rain destroys agricultural products such as wheat and corn. Farmers are unable to pay loans back most are forced to give up their farms and travel to find work.

The Dust Bowl. Continued drought leads to huge clouds of dust rolling across the nation. Livestock and crops destroyed. Economy slides further into crisis. States hardest hit: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. Families who left their farms to find work in California agriculture were called “okies”. Most often migrants from Oklahoma.

Conclusion Heavy debt and high trading contributed to the devastating effects of the stock market crash. Drought and debt destroyed the agricultural industry. Dust storms forced many farmers to leave their homes and search for work in other states. The Great Depression created economic and social crisis for all classes.

Group Project-Pictures of The Great Depression.

Key Terms Observations: Things that are actually shown in the picture such as, “the girl is wearing a dress.” Inferences: Things that the picture portrays but does not actually show such as, “the girl is poor.”

Instructions Separate into groups of 3 or 4. Create a group sheet. Fold a piece of paper in half vertically, label one side “observations” and the other side “inferences”. Log into computer and go to photo gallery internet address:

Instructions continued… As a group analyze at least 4 pictures from 4 different categories on the web site. Make at least 1 observation and 1 inferences about each picture. Be sure to read the title and description for each picture, they will help with your inferences. Using the notes you created, makes a Power Point presentation with at least 4 different slides.

More Instructions. Slides should contain: The category that the photo was found in, the photo that you analyzed, the tile and description of the photo, your inferences and your observations. Make sure to add a title slide with all of the names of the members in your group. You will be required to present and discuss your Power Point to the class.

Example – Potato Fields Title: Digging for Potatoes. Description: 19 year old girl from Oklahoma who now lives in a slum and helped her family earn money by picking potatoes.

Example continued… Observation: The girl is carrying a sack of potatoes around her waist. Inference: The work looks hot and hard, I bet the girl is tired.

HAVE FUN!!

Refrences. “The Enduring Vision” Houghton Mifflin.