Unit 6 - Hardship and Suffering during the Depression

The Depression in the Cities People lost jobs, homes – became homeless Shantytowns emerge later called Hoovervilles Self-constructed homes made from scraps, built on unoccupied land

The Depression in the Cities People lost jobs, homes – became homeless Shantytowns emerge – later called Hoovervilles Soup Kitchens and Bread Lines Provided free or low cost food Run by Charities and govt. agencies Became common sights

The Depression in the Cities People lost jobs, homes – became homeless Shantytowns emerge – later called Hoovervilles Soup Kitchens and Bread Lines Provided free or low cost food Run by Charities and govt. agencies Became common sights Minorities Faced lower wages and higher unemployment rates Increased racial violence due to job competition with whites

The Depression in Rural Areas Farmers lost their land Faced with falling prices and rising debt 400,000 farms lost through foreclosure (1929-1932) The Dust Bowl Drought in Great Plains Drought combined with poor farming practices Topsoil blown away Farmers leave their land – head west Okies – migrants seeking work on west coast Hundreds of thousands of families head west

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Hoover’s Philosophy on the Depression Opposed federal welfare or direct relief Believed handouts would weaken self-respect and moral-fiber Individuals, charities and local organizations should help

Country angry at Hoover for inaction Displeases Americans Shantytowns – Hoovervilles Newspaper blankets – Hoover blankets Empty pockets turned out – Hoover Flags Congressional elections of 1930 Democrats win control of House Republican Majority in Senate down to one Country angry at Hoover for inaction Hoover blamed for difficulties of the Depression

Hoover Finally Takes Action Federal Home Loan Bank Act (1932) Lowered mortgage rates for homeowners Allowed farmers to refinance and avoid foreclosure Reconstruction Finance Corporation (1932) $2 Billion in emergency financing for businesses Hoover believed money would trickle down to the hungry Businesses continued to fail Too little too late

The Bonus Army (1932) 10-20,000 WWI veterans and their families arrive in Washington, DC Veterans were owed a bonus to be paid in 1945 Cash and life insurance policy $500 per soldier Bonus army wanted money immediately (Patman Bill) Hoover calls them Communists and criminals Senate votes against Patman Bill

The Bonus Army (1932) Most of the Bonus Army leaves 2000 stay – hope to meet with president Hoover orders the US Army to remove Bonus Army 11-month old killed 8 year-old partially blinded 2 people shot Hurts Hoover’s image even more American outraged by treatment of Veterans.