The Great Depression: 1930-1939

What is the Great Depression? A time period in American History when America’s economy almost entirely collapsed, unemployment reached and all time high and many homes were taken from those who couldn’t pay their mortgage Lasted from 1930-1939 POTUS: Herbert Hoover & Franklin Roosevelt

Causes of the Great Depression Unregulated banking practices such as: Margin Buying (taking out a loan to buy stocks without a guaranteed return) led to the stock market crash of 1929 Overproduction with reduced demand: America’s factories were getting so efficient that we made more items than we could sell Careless personal spending/saving habits: American’s spent instead of saving causing most to have nothing when times got tough The 1920’s: Socially, politically and economically, Americans only worried about feeling good right now

President Herbert Hoover POTUS during the start of the Great Depression Believed the market crash was the worst of the depression and things had to get better Did almost nothing to stop the depression Homeless section of cities became known as “Hoovervilles”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt POTUS during most of the Great Depression Started the “New Deal” programs to start our economy Kept America together Although the “ND” did not have long term economic effects, it did strengthen the infrastructure of USA and got average Americans working

Governor O. Max Gardner Governor of NC during the Great Depression Created the “Live At Home” program: All public schools—white and African American, implemented an obligatory Live-at-Home curriculum, where students learned the value of cultivating food, raising livestock, rotating crops, planting vegetable gardens, preserving food for winter, and selling excess. As a reward for helping NC’s students during the Depression, consolidating the state university system and embracing the needs of the black community, Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC is named after him. http://ncpedia.org/live-at-home

Roosevelt’s New Deal Program FDR’s plan to boost the economy during the 30’s Gave unemployed persons a paying job Jobs included: building roads and public buildings, helping farms, creating utilities, controlling rivers, securing bank deposits Work = pay, no work = no pay

New Deal Programs Created to help rebuild our country TVA – Tennessee Valley Authority WPA – Works Progress Administration CCC – Civilian Conservation Corp Created to protect your $ FHA – Federal Housing Administration SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission SSA – Social Security Administration FDIC – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The Dust Bowl Overproduction of crops during WWI and the Roaring 20’s along with a severe drought in the early 30’s dried up the Midwestern soil As storms finally arrived on the plains, the “dead soil” was picked up and spread across America eastward

The Effects of the Great Depression on North Carolina Loss of jobs Factories & banks closed Poverty grew Rise of health problems