The Great Depression

The Roaring Twenties Economy seemed strong Less than 4% of American unemployed 1931: Quadruples to 16% (over 8 million) Break from traditions: Lifestyle / culture changes Media focused on celebrities Jazz and Dance Industrial Growth/New technologies: consumer demand

(crime, violence, divorce, child abuse) Ku Klux Klan Prohibition Reformers: “alcohol = root of problems” 18th Amendment (1919) Prohibition: Ban on making/selling alcohol 1920s: “Dry Decade” Re-formed in South (1915) Define “American” as Native White Protestant Influence Spreads Gain political power Elect two governors in states Eventually loses power when people speak out (crime, violence, divorce, child abuse)

21st amendment (1933): Repeals Prohibition Prohibition (cont.) Americans ignore the law Bootleggers- make/sell illegally They were named speakeasies because in public, people whispered of them and once inside, they remained quiet to not draw attention to the illegal gathering. Speakeasies- places where liquor sold* 21st amendment (1933): Repeals Prohibition

Factors of the Great Depression

1) Stock Market Crashes 2) Overproduction Items made too fast Supply/ Demand Lay off workers Stock Prices higher than actual value Black Thursday, October 24, 1929: stock prices drop rapidly Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929: stock market falls apart/crashes People try to sell stock, no takers Great Depression had begun

Factors of the Great Depression (cont.) 2) Overproduction 3) Banks out of business Bought on credit Can’t pay back 4) Foreign Countries - Still in debt - Don’t buy American products

Worldwide Effects France: Mild Nothing major Hits later Germany: Strong 1932: 90% cancelled (repaid in 50’s) Unemployment near 30% American loans stopped Support for Nazi and Communist parties 1935: Gov’t cuts wages, control unions, public work spending Britain: Strong Recovering from WWI Industrial products collapses Exports fall 50% Certain cities: 70% unemployment Less industrialized cities: short lived depression France: Mild Nothing major Hits later Italy: Very Strong Large bailout Out of it Soviet Union: Very Mild Only Communist state, little trade Not tied to rest of world System viewed favorably

III) Farmers Farmers Dust Bowl Drought happens, dries soil Plain winds cause dust storms Farmers forced to relocated Post WWI Not “Roaring 20’s” Financial difficulty Crop prices Can’t support families Plow more lands

Women African Americans North Lost jobs Lost jobs to white “Last hired, first fired” South Sharecroppers in fields Farmer troubles Lost jobs Business owners: important to hire married men

America Overall America Overall Breadlines Lost Confidence Uncertainty about future Businesses: no new investments Employed: worried about losing jobs Unemployed: No hope Breadlines free food Symbol of Depression Homeless sleep anywhere

Movies A) 5 cents B) Seen as escape