The Great Depression

Many found being broke humiliating. 1929-1939 Stock market crash Didn’t realize the effect it would have No money to replenish what was borrowed Many found being broke humiliating.

The Roaring 20’s The new concept of “credit” People were buying: Automobiles Appliances Clothes Fun times reigned Dancing Flappers Drinking

Why was this bad? Credit system WWI People didn’t really have the money they were spending WWI The U.S. was a major credit loaner to other nations in need Many of these nations could not pay us back

The Stock Market People bought stocks on margins Stocks fall If a stock is $100 you can pay $10 now and the rest later when the stock rose Stocks fall Now the person has less than $100 and no money to pay back

With people panicking about their money investors tried to sell their stocks This leads to a huge decline in stocks Stocks were worthless now People who bought on “margins” now could not pay Investors were average people that were now broke And then….

President Hoover Herbert Hoover was president at the start Philosophy: We’ll make it! What He Did: Nothing The poor were looking for help and no ideas on how to correct or help were coming

What about the people? Farmers were already feeling the effects Prices of crops went down Many farms foreclosed People could not afford luxuries Factories shut down Businesses went out Banks could not pay out money People could not pay their taxes Schools shut down due to lack of funds Many families became homeless and had to live in shanties

Many waited in unemployment lines hoping for a job.

People in cities would wait in line for bread to bring to their family.

Some families were forced to relocate because they had no money.

“Hooverville” Some families were forced to live in shanty towns A grouping of shacks and tents in vacant lots They were referred to as “Hooverville” because of President Hoover’s lack of help during the Depression.

Hooverville

Out of the Dust: The South and the Dust Bowl

A drought in the South lead to dust storms that destroyed crops. “The Dust Bowl”

The South Was Buried Crops turned to dust=No food to be sent out Homes buried Fields blown away South in state of emergency Dust Bowl the #1 weather crisis of the 20th century

Two Families During the Depression

A Farm Foreclosure

Some families tried to make money by selling useful crafts like baskets.

*FDR* When he was inaugurated unemployment had increased by 7 million. Poor sections (like Harlem) had 50% of the pop. unemployed Instated the “New Deal” Yea! Frankie!

People everywhere were affected by the depression It wasn’t till President Roosevelt took over and tried to put the economy back together that people even saw a glimmer of hope

To Kill a Mockingbird

Major Historical Happenings... Jim Crow Laws Scottsboro Trials Recovering from the Great Depression Racial Injustice Poor South

Jim Crow Laws After the American Civil War most states in the South passed anti-African American legislation. These became known as Jim Crow laws. These laws included segregation in… Schools -- Hospitals Theaters -- Water fountains Restaurants Hotels Public transportation Some states forbade inter-racial marriages

These laws were instituted in 1896 and were not abolished till the late 1950’s (even then still not completely).

Harper Lee

Wrote To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 Based the story on her life growing up in Monroeville, Alabama TKAM was the only novel she ever wrote

The character of “Dill,” Scout and Jem’s playmate in the novel was based upon Lee’s actual neighbor, Truman Capote Capote is famous for amongst other things, In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It has been said that he gave Lee Mockingbird as a gift.

In 1962 the novel was turned into a film starring Gregory Peck. It received a humanitarian award and several Academy Award nominations

Scottsboro Trials Took place during 1930’s in northern Alabama Began with a charge of rape made by white women against 9 African American men. Poor white status of accusers was a critical issue. A central figure was a heroic judge, a member of the Alabama Bar who over- turned a guilty jury verdict against African American men.

Scottsboro Trials An older woman was taking a younger woman across state lines to become a prostitute. During this time, taking a woman under age 18 was considered illegal. In reality, on the train ride, the women tore their dresses and roughened themselves up.

Scottsboro Trials By claiming rape, they did not have to face the laws for bringing the underage woman across state lines. The judge went against public sentiment in trying to protect the rights of the African American men. Though none of the men were executed, they waited on death row for many years. Finally, in 1976, the case was thrown out of court by a judge.

Ruby Bates taking the stand during the trial. The Scottsboro boys with their lawyer.

Scottsboro Trial The first juries failed to include any African Americans, a situation which caused the U.S. Supreme court to overturn the guilty verdict The jury ignored the evidence, for example, that the women suffered no injuries. Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicated the trial. .

Similarities between Harper Lee and Scout Finch Grew up in 1930’s -- in rural southern Alabama town Harper Lee’s father-- Amassa Lee-- an attorney who served in state legislature in Alabama Older brother and young neighbor (Truman Capote) were playmates Grew up in 1930’s -- in rural southern Alabama town Scout Finch’s father-- Atticus Finch -- an attorney who served in state legislature in Alabama Older brother and young neighbor (Dill) were playmates

Other Similarities Harper Lee - an avid reader Six years old when Scottsboro trials covered in state and local newspapers Scout Finch reads before she enters school, also an avid reader Six years old when Tom Robinson trial takes place

The End