The Great Depression and the New Deal Lesson 2 Americans Suffer

Hardships During Depression: The Great Depression brought hardship, homelessness, and hunger to millions Loss of Jobs, Wages, Homes 25% Unemployment African Americans + Latinos affected Racial Discrimination and competition for jobs. Hoboes- Unemployed men who wandered the country Men started to leave their homes Shantytowns - small shack-like towns “Hoovervilles”

Economic Hardship Shakes the Cities Analyze Graphs How many millions of people lost their jobs between 1928 and 1933? During which years did unemployment increase the most?

Soup Kitchens: One of the common features of urban areas during the era were soup kitchens and bread lines Soup kitchens and bread lines offered free or low-cost food for people Even successful businessmen could be found trying to get free food. Unemployed men wait in line for food – this particular soup kitchen was sponsored by Al Capone

Women and Children in the Depression New types of work and involvement Work outside of the home Earned less money than men Share groceries with neighbors Children/Teenagers Poor nutrition/health problems “Hoover Tourists” Ride trains

Rural + Farmers Problems before the Great Depression Environment Falling crop prices Debts (Equipment, Homes, Land) Lack of income Many farmers moved around the country for other work Loss of the Family Farm Foreclose their land + houses Repossess their equipment Tenant Farming – worked for bigger landowners Environment Drought Many left their farms/homes

The Dust Bowl: Over farming lead to poor soil quality (no nutrients) severe drought gripped the Great Plains in the early 1930s Dust Bowl – Great plains region that became worthless for farming

Analyze Maps Which two states appear to have been hardest hit by erosion? What is unusual about California's location compared to other destinations?

Hard Times Hit Most Americans Families Suffer During the Depression Men – “Breadwinners” couldn’t provide for their families Shame + Despair Birthrates decline Families help each other out Poor Minorities Suffer Disproportionately Minorities suffer First to be fired, last to be hired 50% Unemployment rate for African Americans Mexican Americans Competition for Jobs in California = racial tensions Repatriation – encourage immigrants to return to their country of origin. Deportation or pressured from various groups

Effect Of Depression: Negatives: Suicide rate rose more than 30% between 1928-1932 Alcoholism rose sharply in urban areas Three times as many people were admitted to state mental hospitals as in normal times Positives: Many people showed great kindness to strangers Additionally, many people developed habits of savings & thriftiness

Rural America Struggles with Poverty Combined with the severe drought, how did the planting of wheat lead to the loss of topsoil and the dust storms?