Mr. Ermer U.S. History Miami Beach Senior High

1930: More than half of African-Americans live in the South as farmers Decline in cotton prices leave many African-Americans without sufficient incomes African-Americans forced to leave rural areas for cities, whites occupy jobs formerly for blacks Black Shirts 1932: More than half of southern African-Americans unemployed Even in northern cities, African-American unemployment at 50% or more The Scottsboro Case, illustrates survival of racism and segregation in South NAACP defends African-American rights, and argues for membership in unions AFRICAN AMERICANS & THE DEPRESSION

Mexican-Americans experience similar discrimination as African-Americans Many had filled the same types of menial labor jobs in the West as blacks in the South Many rural families become migrant agricultural workers Most Mex-Americans live in cities, fill the low skill industrial jobs, high unemployment Many relief programs exclude Mexicans from their rolls Many Mexicans & Mexican-Americans leave for Mexico, or deported (including citizens) Latinos generally had no access to schools, many hospitals refused to treat them MEXICAN-AMERICANS & THE DEPRESSION

Reinforces belief that women’s place was in the home, not workplace Women whose husbands were employed commonly refused work Many women, however, were employed and worked through 1930s By the end of the Depression 20% more women worked than before the crash Still, women more likely to be denied professional work and to be laid off Traditionally female service jobs less likely to decline as male dominated heavy industry Even unemployed men do not seek out “women’s work” African-American women suffer the most during the depression WOMEN & THE DEPRESSION

Retreat from consumerism Women return to sewing clothes for families, selves Home businesses like laundry service, baked goods, boarding on rise Divorce rate declines because of high cost of court fees, informal family breakups Men leave home to find work in far off places, or to escape humiliation of unemployment Birth rates and marriage rates decline, some traditional family values/roles resurge Persistence of the “Success Ethic” Some criticize the economic system in general, many blame selves Social unrest not as high as expected due to passivity of unemployed Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) THE DEPRESSION, FAMILIES, & AMERICAN VALUES

Popular Front: coalition of “antifascist” groups, including Communist Party Paint the Great Depression as the failure of the capitalist system Spanish Civil-War being fought between Franco’s fascists (supported by Hitler & Mussolini) and the republican government, many Americans fight against Franco Under directions of the Soviet Union, American Communist Party joins with other groups Support for FDR and the New Deal, FDR seen as possible Soviet ally versus Hitler Southern Tenant Farmers Union Being part of the Political Left becomes more acceptable, even conventional THE LEFT & THE POPULAR FRONT