The Great Depression By: John Hirka

A Quick Glance -The Great Depression was the longest, most devastating economic crisis in American history. Despair and poverty became key characteristics of America. -Unemployment ruled nearly a third of the nation.

Farmers Crops were destroyed by insects, heat, and dryness. Unpredictable weather made farming near impossible. Refusal from the government to provide help made farm life twice as hard as urban living. Neighbors were reliant on each other for almost everything, including health, moral support, and labor.

The Dust Bowl Dust blew for eight years over the southern plains. Simple tasks such as breathing, walking, and eating became a challenge. The drought was devastating, and only added to the on-going depression. Careless agricultural practice revealed the underlying “dust”, which was whipped up with the wind, sometimes darkening the skies for days.

The Dust Bowl Continued.. Government programs were put in place to restore ecological balance. Formed Drought Relief Service (DRS), which brought cattle into counties which were designated as “emergency areas”. Roosevelt ordered the Civilian Conservation Corps to plant a huge belt of over 200 million acres.

Dust Bowl Recovery… By the end of the drought, the political economy in the plains had changed fundamentally. Families who migrated experienced a significant increase in house-hold income, which erased any desire to return back to the agricultural life. Advances in agriculture and transportation reduced the need for small-scale farming, though it was still somewhat important. For more on the dust bowl, click here: Dust bowlDust bowl

Artist Influence - The Dust Bowl was documented by artists, photographers, as well as authors. The government hired many of these artists to help more accurately portray the devastation that had overcome the plains. Music artists were also influenced, taking the experience with them through their music in their travels.

Literature During The Great Depression Reading became quite popular, as the money required to pursue normal entertainment was not available. The depression was a huge influence on literature, considering the changes that were necessary among American society in order to survive. This cultural “shift” provided grounds for many authors and artists to portray different views and perspectives on the situation through their work.

Turning Point This point occurred in most countries starting in 1933, though each country recovered at a different pace. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” is thought to be the cause of the turn around, though it never completely revived the country. The massive flow of gold into the country is thought by many economists to have played a major role in the recovery of America.

Some Interesting Facts 1.Al Capone, in one of his many attempts at forming public relations opened a soup kitchen, which at the time were the primary source of food for people in the cities. 2.There was a wave of suicides during the depression. There are actually sources that claim certain hotel clerks were assigning rooms to people based on whether they needed to jump or to sleep. 3.One farmer did not want to see his sheep starve to death, so he cut their throats and threw them into a canyon. 4.It is estimated that nearly 50% of children during the depression were without safe amounts of food, shelter, and/or medical care.

Comparison The Great Depression Bank Failure: 50% Unemployment Rate: 25% Economic Decline: % Changes in Prices: -25% Today’s Recession Bank Failure:.6% Unemployment Rate: 8.5% Economic Decline: - 3.3% Change in Prices: +.5%

References Lange, D. (1937, 6). Retrieved 2 8, 2010, from Library of congress: Lange, D. (1937, 3). Retrieved 2 8, 2010, from Library of Congress: