Georgia Studies Unit 6: Early 20th Century Georgia Lesson 1: The Great Depression Study Presentation

Lesson 1: The Great Depression ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How did forces of nature affect the economy of Georgia? How did state and national political policies influence the growth and development of Georgia and the future of politics in the state?

The Roaring Twenties 1920 – 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote and more women began to enter the workforce. Flappers: name given to women who took on the new fashion – known for short hair, make-up, dancing, drinking Jazz (Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington) and Blues (Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith) became popular forms of music. First women in Georgia legislature: Bessie Kempton Crowell & Viola Ross Napier Rebecca Latimer Felton first woman in U.S. Senate

Life in the Roaring Twenties Life in US after World War I was good More modern conveniences freed women from household chores Electricity became more available Other inventions included gas stoves, toasters, sliced bread, baby food Radio: WSB started in Atlanta 1927: first talking motion picture Walt Disney creates Mickey Mouse Charles Lindbergh makes first ever nonstop flight from New York to Paris, France.

The Destruction of King Cotton Boll weevil: insect which ate Georgia’s most important cash crop Price of cotton also dropped 1924: major drought (period with little or no rain) hit Georgia Georgia farmers did not have the “good life” that many Americans enjoyed Farms closed forcing banks and farm-related business to close Great Migration – Many tenant farmers leave Georgia to work in northern factories.

The Klan Strengthens Targeted African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants Number of members increased in every state 1925: Klan march on Washington with 40,000 members Declining membership by the end of the decade as members were linked to racial terrorism

The Bottom Drops Out Stock Market: Place where shares of ownership in corporations (stock) are bought and sold “Black Tuesday” – October 29, 1929: Stock market prices fall greatly; millions of people loose all their wealth Total losses by end of year: $40 billion Example: U.S. Steel was $262 per share – dropped to $22 per share Some stocks worth less than 1¢

Causes of the Great Depression Many people had borrowed too much money Factories produced more goods than they could sell As people and businesses had problems making money, banks did not get paid for loans “Speculation” in the stock market: paying only a portion of the price of a stock hoping that the value will go up Runs on banks: people were afraid they would lose their money if it was left in the bank laissez-faire: attitude that the economy would fix itself if left alone

Living Through the Depression 1932: 13 million unemployed 9,000 banks closed 31 Georgia banks failed Hoovervilles: named for President Hoover – shacks where homeless people gathered Soup kitchens set up by charities and governments to feed hungry Schools were often forced to close or shorten schedules Georgians were already suffering from economic problems before Black Tuesday

The New Deal 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt elected president New Deal: Roosevelt’s plan to end the depression Examined banks for soundness Give jobs to unemployed workers Tried to improve American’s lives Paved the way for recovery though all programs did not work

Georgia and the New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – Created jobs for young men. Men worked in exchange for housing, food, and money. Built many of GA’s parks, sewer systems, bridges, etc. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – Raised the price of farm products by limiting supply. Farmers were paid to produce less to drive the price up so each farmer made for money for their crops. Rural Electrification Authority (REA) –Brought electricity to the rural (country) areas of the U.S. Social Security Act – Passed in 1935. Helped to provide old-age benefits for retiring workers. Also offered insurance for the unemployed and disabled.

African Americans During the New Deal Did not benefit from many New Deal programs WPA: Works Public Administration – did employ many African Americans Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet”: influential African Americans working with President Roosevelt: Mary McLeod Bethune Clark Foreman Robert Weaver William Hastie

Georgia’s New Deal Governors Richard B. Russell Worked to reorganize state government like a successful business Elected to U.S. Senate and served for 38 years Eugene Talmadge Did not like New Deal programs in Georgia Elected Governor of GA in 1932 and 1934. Outspoken critic of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal programs in Georgia. Eurith “Ed” Rivers Worked with Roosevelt to increase New Deal spending in Georgia Began programs for public housing Term ended with corruption problems

Georgia’s New Deal Governors (Cont.) Talmadge re-elected in 1940 Began to use some New Deal programs Used his power as governor to remove state officials working to integrate Georgia’s state colleges Ellis Arnall Reformed Board of Regents and state prisons Removed poll tax New state constitution