Life During the Great Depression 1929-1939
Unemployment Overproduction caused the price of goods to drop and factories to close People were laid off (fired) as companies closed Led to massive unemployment in the United States 1930-1932: Unemployment goes from 4 to 12 million 1933 – 25% unemployed
Jobless Became Homeless Unemployed workers were unable to pay rent and became homeless People migrated looking for work Walked from town to town hoping to find work Children had to quit school and look for jobs (Kids as young as 7) People stood in “Bread” lines for food
People who lost their homes in the 1930s
Houses made out of boxes, tins, and newspaper Lived here…. Homeless people lived in city parks or open fields These new towns were “shanty towns” called “Hoovervilles” People called them “Hoovervilles because people blamed President Hoover for not doing more to end the crisis Houses made out of boxes, tins, and newspaper
Click pic to play Hooverville song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5cNfvsOqNk Click pic to play Hooverville song
What do you think this is? During the Great Depression, people were desperate! People were force to learn how to survive. What do you think this is? This is a coat made out a feed sack. Many people made curtains, clothes, table clothes, etc. Not all feed sacks were this drab. After a while feed sacks where made with flowered patterns so people could use the material.
In one school, a teacher ordered a thin girl to go home to eat In one school, a teacher ordered a thin girl to go home to eat. “I can't,” replied the girl. “This is my sister's day to eat.” “I would take off my glasses so I would not see the bugs on the food from the trash.”
Poor Man’s meal Peel and cube potatoes Fry in a pan with oil Add in a chopped onion Cook until onions are browned Add in hot dogs, and cook a few minutes more
Veterans WWI Veterans were promised a bonus in 1945 Poor veterans wanted the bonus early (1932) 20,000 Veterans went to Washington D.C. in order to protest (called the Bonus March) and demand their bonus Hoover did not agree to give the bonus money, and many left When some veterans refused to leave, Hoover sent in army (led by Eisenhower & McArthur), used tear gas, and burned camp
What does a dust storm look like? Dust Bowl 1931 - a major dust storm hit the Midwest What does a dust storm look like?
Dust Bowl Clouds of dust swarmed into people’s towns and homes Results: Thousands of farm animals died due to lack of water Dust covered the sky: Farmers crops were ruined and farmers lost money Farmers LOST FARMS Many farmers moved to California to find job, but were not wanted in West and were called “Oakies” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYOmjQO_UMw
America Needed Assistance Americans asked the government and President Hoover for help Hoover said it was up to each state and local town to help people, and he believed that the economy would recover on its own Problem – There were too many people who needed help Not enough money to help everyone Americans blamed Hoover Hoover lost re-election in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt Hoover promised prosperity during his 1928 presidential campaign. ‘A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” It’s risky to spend lots of government money on programs that may or may not actually help!