The economic boom-and-bust in America in the 1920s and 1930s. 5-4.2 Summarize the causes of the Great Depression, including overproduction and declining purchasing power, the bursting of the stock market bubble in 1929, and the resulting unemployment, failed economic institutions; and the effects of the Dust Bowl.

The Stock Market Crash The stock market crash of 1929 marked the end of the economic boom of the 1920s and the start of the Great Depression in the 1930s. It exposed the economic weaknesses of the United States.

The Stock Market: How It Works

The Stock Market Crash Not everyone could buy the products that came from American factories because wages were low and farm prices were depressed. Although some American consumers had been able to continue to buy using credit, such borrowing could not be sustained.

The Stock Market Crash

The Stock Market Crash Similar to what happened to farmers following WWI a decade earlier, factories suffered from overproduction and many industries began to lay off workers as the decade came to an end. Depression: Unemployed: the Unemployed Union: marchers south on Broadway: Camden New Jersey typical scene reflecting large population of unemployed in desperate need of work and looking for jobs,

The Stock Market Crash

The Stock Market Crash When investors recognized this slowing of the economy, they suddenly began selling off their stocks. This sale was made worse because some investors had borrowed in order to buy stocks and could not pay off their loans as the value of stocks declined. The stock market crash resulted.

After the Crash… Once the stock market crashed, a domino effect of economic struggle began to occur. Unemployment continued to rise. Consumers were unable or unwilling to buy, so businesses failed. Failed businesses laid off more workers.

After the Crash… Unemployed borrowers were unable to pay off their bank loans. Loss of confidence in the baking system lead many people to try to withdraw whatever savings they had. With limited income from loan payments, the banks could not pay their depositors. Such runs on the banks caused bank failures. People lost what little money they had been able to save.

The Great Depression

The Great Migration continues! Many people (black and white) migrated to the north to… Find jobs Avoid prejudice Leave miserable farm economy Photograph of a Shack for Negroes Only at Belle Glade, Florida

Life of an American in the 1930s No job, no money, no home, no food! Homeless people made shanties (make-shift homes) made out of scrap lumber and empty boxes in parks and other public places called “Hooverville's” named after president Herbert Hoover. Photograph of Shanties at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp

The Dust Bowl Farm Security Administration: Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children Dust Storm in Rolla, Kansas; “05/06/35; Dear Mr. Roosevelt, Darkness came when it hit us. Picture taken from water tower one hundred feet high. Yours Truly, Chas. P. Williams.” Photo: Massive Dark cloud approaching village in forefront.

The Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl conditions of the Midwest led others, such as the Okies, to migrate to California where they sought jobs as migrant workers.

The Dust Bowl

Life of an American in the 1930s No job, no money, no home, no food! Many men and women took to the highways or rode the trains from town to town looking for work or a handout and became know as hoboes. Between Bakersfield and Fresno, California. On the Freights. Twenty years old and he has been hopping freight cars on the bum for two years

Life of an American in the 1930s Bakersfield, California. On the Freights. Helping a newcomer hop a freight. Roseville, Placer County, California. On the Freights. Five o’clock in the morning in Roseville switch yards for freight going over the Sierra