The 1930s

Causes of the Great Depression

Supply was higher than demand 1. Overproduction Supply was higher than demand Industries increased their production during WWI This Created a surplus of Goods after war was over Europe wasn’t buying U.S. goods

2. Consumer OverSpending Consumers spent too much money after WW1 and Bought many items on credit After Stock Market Crash consumers only bought necessities

3. “Get Rich Quick” Attitudes People took huge risks in the stock market Buyers borrowed money to buy stocks When stock market fell, borrowers could not afford to pay off what they owed

There was Unequal distribution of wealth 4. Disparity in Wealth There was Unequal distribution of wealth (1% owned 40%)

5. Stock Market Crash of 1929 Confidence in the stock market wavered Investors started selling stocks quickly No demand for stocks= stock values go down Black Tuesday Shareholders frantically sold stocks before prices went even lower People who had bought stocks on credit were stuck with huge debts People who did not sell stocks fast enough lost most of their savings

($319 billion today) was lost in the 1929 crash tock transactions in those days were printed on ticker tape, which could only produce 285 words a minute. $25 billion ($319 billion today) was lost in the 1929 crash

Long lines to withdraw savings at banks

Businesses could no longer afford to pay workers so many were laid off and became jobless

Soup Kitchens and help centers became overwhelmed with people.

Period of great economic turmoil The Great Depression Period of great economic turmoil High unemployment rates 34 million people belonged to families with no regular, full-time wage earner Homelessness increased significantly People lost everything-homes, automobiles, etc.

Social Impact of Great Depression Women and minorities especially hard hit Women often fired because businesses thought jobs should go to men first African Americans laid off to give jobs to white workers Men abandoned families to find jobs When they failed, they often did not return home out of shame

President Herbert Hoover’s Attempts to Help tried to create work relief programs Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam Asked Federal government to guarantee home loans Appeared as too little, too late People blamed Hoover for the Depression

Hoovervilles Homeless families, lacking shelter, used cardboard and packing crates to create encampments called Hoovervilles The name was meant to cast criticism on President Hoover and his handling of the economic crisis

The Dust Bowl: Causes Southern Plains (Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico) Worst drought in U.S. history Farmers continued to plant despite crop failures which killed prairie grasses necessary to hold top soil http://www.history.com/topics/dust-bowl

The Dust Bowl: Effects Winds began blowing topsoil away Dust clouds thousands of feet high and miles wide formed Destroyed farms 1/3 of Farm families left the region Ended in 1938

Route 66 Families who left took this highway Headed west to California

Election of 1932

The New Deal Series of bills designed to address the nation’s problems Created many new works programs

The first New Deal FDR’s First 100 Days 13 laws passed

Prohibition Ended

Still in effect today! Social Security Act Passed during Roosevelt’s second term as President Most seniors did not have pensions and those who did saw them wiped out First New deal had left out groups of people like the elderly and disabled Social Security Act provided for old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to the disableD Still in effect today!

Eleanor Roosevelt First lady urged FDR to create reforms to help minorities and the poor traveled the U.S. to observe social conditions so she could keep the president informed as to the state of the nation vocal advocate for both women and Blacks and instrumental in ending discriminatory practices associated with New Deal legislation credited with changing the role of First Ladies from passive spouses to women who use their position of influence to address societal issues

Criticism of the New Deal Some conservatives thought FDR had made the government too large and too powerful. some liberals thought FDR had not gone far enough to socialize the economy and eliminate inequality in the United States

Criticism of the New Deal biggest critic was Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana believed the New Deal had not gone far enough to help society proposed "Share Our Wealth" program Would guarantee a household income for each family in the U.S., which would be paid for by high taxes on the wealthiest Americans

Criticism of the New Deal 1936- the Supreme Court declared two pieces of the First New Deal unconstitutional The Court struck down these two programs because they were perceived as Federal overreach into the operations of private businesses

Criticism of the New Deal FDR grew frustrated with the Supreme Court, which was composed of 9 men, all over 60 years old and conservative Roosevelt proposed a reorganization of the federal judiciary system by adding judges to all levels of the federal courts for every justice who refused to retire after the age of 70 This would allow FDR to appoint enough justices to uphold his New Deal programs FDR was criticized for wanting to "pack the court“ His opponents believed he was attacking the independence of the judicial branch Many of his supporters split from him on the decision and some began to question the new deal altogether

The effects of the New Deal Shift in political party platforms African Americans voted democratic Unemployment decreased Government had more power and say in social and economic issues No longer “should the government get involved?” now “when will the government get involved?”