1929-1940 The Great Depression

Dorothea Lange Lange was a photographer She took photos of migrant farm workers who came to California from the Dust Bowl Her photos helped people understand the plight of the poor

Learning from a photo Look at the following photo carefully, what do you notice? What do you think the photographer was trying to say with this image?

Stock Market Crash The period of 1920’s prosperity ended with the stock market crash of 1929 The stock crash led to the Great Depression of the 1930’s

Business Failures Businesses in the 1920’s made so many goods not all were purchased. The US put a tariff (tax) on European goods and many countries stopped buying US products. In 1932 over 30,000 business failed

Bank Closures Banks that loaned money to people who bought stock were not paid back People feared banks would close and took their money out of banks. Many banks failed, and people lost the money deposited in the banks.

Unemployment Soars Millions of Americans were thrown out of work as businesses failed Workers’ wages were cut By 1932 12 million Americans were unemployed, 25% of the workforce

Homelessness and “Hoovervilles” Unemployed workers lost their homes The homeless poor moved to shanty towns, with shelters made of cardboard The homeless camps were nicknamed Hoovervilles, by people who blamed President Hoover Poor hobos road the rails from town to town

The Bonus March World War 1 veterans asked the government to pay their bonuses early WW 1 veterans marched in Washington D.C. Congress refused the “Bonus Army” their payments US troops turned water hoses on WW 1 Vets.

The Dust Bowl In 1932 and 1937 there was a drought in the Great Plains, which destroyed farmers There was no rain for farmers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas Winds blew the topsoil away creating a “Dust Bowl” Farmers could not pay their mortgages to banks

Migration to California These penniless farmers traveled to California in search of jobs and land They traveled Route 66 in their jalopies Californians looked down on these “Okies”, as migrants flooded west.

Woody Guthrie - Folk Music Woody Guthrie sang folk music about the experiences of poor people during the Great Depression “Do-Re-Mi” was a song about the migrants traveling to California His most famous song, “This Land is Your Land, is still known today.