The Great Depression and the New Deal The Americans, Chapters 14 and 15

The Stock Market Crash  It is often assumed that the Great Depression was caused by the “Great Crash” in the fall of 1929, but this is an oversimplification.  The stock market crash was just one of the causes.  There were other serious weaknesses in the U.S. economy.

Bank Failures  Thousands of bank failures contributed to the Great Depression.  Rumors often led bank customers to panic and withdraw all their funds. This is called a “run on the bank.”  When the bank ran out of funds, the other depositors lost all their money and the bank went bankrupt.

Business Failures  90,000 businesses went bankrupt between 1929 and  One reason for this was that many industries had failed to adjust their high production rates to the declining demand in the late 1920s.  This was especially true with what are called “durable goods,” things that last a long time, like refrigerators, washing machines, and automobiles.  These surplus goods were already being stockpiled in company warehouses before the depression hit. Without buyers, companies could not afford to make more of these items. Factories had to close down.

Unemployment  The closing of factories led to millions of lay-offs. This sharp increase in the unemployment rate was the most obvious symptom of the Great Depression.  Many industries that were able to stay open were forced to decrease their overall production. They often had to turn full-time employees into part-time employees or lay off a portion of their workforce.  The resulting unemployment or under-employment had a profound impact on the American economy.

Income and Spending The decline in consumer spending forces businesses to cut production Unemployment decreases buying power Cuts in production lead to lay-offs Consider this... In this manner, the U.S. economy became steadily worse between 1929 and 1933.

World Wide Depression  Throughout the 1920s, while the American economy was booming, European countries had been suffering economic hard times. They were still trying to recover from the impact of WWI.  Also, the U.S. passed high tariffs on imported goods to give an advantage to American industries, which restricted international trade.  When the depression hit the U.S., our trading partners around the world could not help us.

The Farming Crisis  Before the Great Depression, U.S farmers had been suffering from a depression in the farm economy due to overproduction.  The resulting low prices for farm products made it hard to make a profit.  They became deeply in debt and many farms were repossessed and sold at auction.  In the early 1930s, farmers in parts of the U.S. were hit by a severe drought that came to be called the...

How many states were partially in the region most affected by the Dust Bowl?

The Geographic Impact of the Dust Bowl  Lack of rain led wells to dry up and trees to die.  High winds carried off the loose topsoil, damaging the land for future farming.  This would lead many farmers in the region to give up their farms and move to states on the west coast seeking work.

Dealing with the Great Depression  Between 1929 and 1932, the Hoover’s administration was unable to bring about a real improvement in the economy  The public blamed Hoover for the worsening situation.  They elected FDR in He promised Americans a “New Deal.” Herbert HooverF. D. Roosevelt

The New Deal  Roosevelt declared a “bank holiday,” closing U.S. banks temporarily to restore public confidence and prevent further bankruptcies.  Congress cooperated with the president to pass many reform measures aimed at relieving the symptoms of the Great Depression.

Lasting Impact of the New Deal  The New Deal expanded the government’s role in the economy. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)- insures banking accounts preventing bank failures Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)- regulates and stabilizes the stock market  The Social Security Administration provides: pensions for the elderlyaid to families with dependent childrenunemployment compensationassistance for the handicapped

Ending the Great Depression  New Deal programs like the PWA, the WPA, the NYA and the CCC were primarily aimed at putting people to work. This would theoretically “prime the pump” by increasing spending, which should increase production and, ultimately, create more jobs.  Historians suggest that these programs, while they served to improve public morale, were insufficient to really turn the economy around.  The Great Depression was finally ended by the beginning of World War II and the full employment it provided.