AIM: What effects did the Great Depression have in America, and how did President Hoover respond?

The Great Depression led to a COLLAPSE of the American financial system by 1933 Americans lost confidence in banks as 25,000 banks failed; The lack of banking meant there was no money for investment The lack of spending and stock market crash led to failure of 90,000 businesses Unemployment peaked at 25% of all Americans; People lost their homes, farms, and businesses The USA had record poverty and suicide rates and healthcare declined; Charities offered soup kitchens and breadlines to help

Soup Kitchens & Breadlines

Stop and Think: What is the unfortunate message of this cartoon?

Mortgage Foreclosures

Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother” In Lange’s own words ‘I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.’ 

How do you think teenagers not much older than you dealt with the Great Depression? “Train Hopping”

Republican President Herbert Hoover tried to reassure Americans: “Any lack of confidence in the economic future…is foolish.” Economic downturns are natural! - Hoover “Volunteerism” (the PEOPLE give back and are charitable to help each other) Overcome through “rugged individualism” (using individual hard work and perseverance) Encouraged business growth, and LIMIT government involvement Woody Guthrie

Hoover’s initial response to the Depression Does this remind of you any other ideas we’ve discussed? Survival of the fittest

Did these policies work? Why or Why not? Hoover’s Policies No direct government aid Public Works projects – Hoover Dam (originally the Boulder Dam) created jobs Lowered mortgage rates – Why? Emergency financial aid for banks Did these policies work? Why or Why not?

This was the scene of Americans who had lost their homes, jobs, and most of their belongings… “Hoover Hotels” “Hoover Blankets” “Hoover Flags” “Hooverville”

Where is this? Central Park, 1937

Annie: We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover How does this song represent the feelings towards Hoover’s relief programs?

Who were the Bonus Army? “This was a bunch of people in great distress wanting help...” WHILE YOU WATCH: Why did the Bonus Army camp out in Washington DC? What actions did General MacArthur and the military take? What were the results? VIDEO

Bonus Army Douglas MacArthur Dwight Eisenhower