The effects of the great depression

Effects Nearly 25% of Americans were unemployed and/or homeless Workers called hobos, went from town to town riding on the railroads illegally, looking for work Collapse of financial system (bank closures) Farm foreclosures and migration

Hoover’s Response Rugged Individualism - belief that individuals should help and pickup themselves Reflects ideas of Social Darwinism Volunteerism - asking business to volunteer aid But many pushed for direct relief - money and aid given by the federal government

Examples of Hoover’s Responses Soup Kitchens/Bread Lines – cheap or free food offered to the poor through charitable organizations Bonus Army (1932) – when 20,000 World War I veterans marched on Washington to demand an early payment of their promised bonuses Congress votes no Hoover decided the army should be removed and orders 1,000 soldiers to enforce it by burning tents and gassing others

Hoover Helps Banks Hoover did help banks and big businesses Authorizes $2 billion in aid to failing banks believing the money would “trickle-down” and help stimulate the economy  it didn’t

Blame Hoover! Hooverville –villages of shelters built out of scraps like cardboard, metal, paper, etc. Hoover’s flag –pant pockets turned inside out to show the person had no money Hoover blankets –newspapers that people used to keep warm with at night Hoover’s policies viewed as a failure

Dust Bowl (1930-1936) Time of little to no agricultural productivity due to over cultivation, drought, and high winds Affected Great Plains region Federal relief and conservation programs provided assistance, but many residents fled and migrated to California

Women in the Dust Bowl 1. What area of the US did the Dust Bowl hit? 2. When did the drought finally end? 3. What do they do with the dishes before each meal? 4. At School #3, teachers are also what else? 5. In what major city was the sun actually obscured? 6. At the end of her diary entries, what phrase does Low use to describe life during the Dust Bowl?