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The Great Depression
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What were the causes of the Great Depression? How did the depression affect the lives of Americans?
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The “Roaring” 20’s Economic Boom – Americans earning more than ever before National income rose from $61-$87 billion (43% increase) – More money to spend on luxury goods By mid 1920s Americans owned over 23 million cars – ¾ of all the cars in the world
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Popular Culture Reflected the Prosperity of the Era Radio – Broadcasted Jazz Newspapers and Magazines – Shaped cultural norms – Sparked fads –Flappers
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Challenged Traditional Values Traditional Religion: – Darwin’s theory – Scopes Trial
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“Inherit The Wind”
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Challenged Traditional Values Prohibition (18 th amend): Prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, etc. of alcohol – Smuggling of alcohol – Speakeasies
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Business Cycle
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Election of 1928 Herbert Hoover (R) wins Only in office 6 months when Great Depression Begins Believed the economy is best if left alone – Laissez Faire – This helped fuel the economic boom of the 1920s
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Causes of the Great Depression
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THE CRASH!
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Black Tuesday, Oct. 29
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The Crash Over 16 million shares sold in selling frenzy Average price dropped 40 points Paper loss exceeded $26 billion Stock losses exceeded the total cost of U.S. involvement in World War I!
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Stock Market Crash of 1929 1.Business was booming, but investments were made up borrowed money (known as over speculation) 2.There was an excessive expansion of credit 3.Business failures led to bankruptcies 4.Banks were also invested in the market 5.When the market collapsed, banks had no money
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THE GREAT DEPRESSION WAS CAUSED BY MORE THAN JUST THE STOCK MARKET…
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Federal Reserve Policies Federal Reserve FAILED to prevent the widespread collapse of the US banking system led to a contraction (less) money in circulation – Citizens withdrew their savings (bank runs) which caused more banks to close
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A BANK RUN
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It’s A Wonderful Life
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High Protective Tariffs Tariff Act of 1930 (Hawley-Smoot Tariff) put a high tax on imported goods – People thought it would promote productivity from American Industries and decrease unemployment Unintended Effect – Other countries put tariffs on US goods creating a trade problem for the whole world – strangled world trade!
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Unemployment Less Money to Spend Buy Fewer Goods Companies have less profits Fire Workers
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Impact of Great Depression
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Unemployment and Homelessness Many people lost their jobs – By 1932, 25-30% of workforce unemployed – 12-15 million Americans jobless Cleveland, Ohio – 50% Toledo, Ohio – 80% unemployment
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An Al Capone-sponsored soup kitchen
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Skid Row, Looking for Rooms
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MOVIES People looked to movies to provide an escape from the realities of the Depression
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Demand for Goods Declines
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Political Unrest Workers were angry and labor unions became more militant – In 1934 alone, 1.5 million workers went on strike.
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Farm Foreclosures and Migration Farmers had another problem: DUST BOWL Many farmers lost their farms and became migrant workers – People who move from place to place working on other peoples’ farms
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The Actual “Dust Bowl”
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Between 1930-1934 one million families lost their farms
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4. Farm Foreclosures and Migration Many people left the Great Plains and moved to CA
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Collapse of Financial System Many banks closed – people lost their savings collapse of the financial system 11,000 of 25,000 banks fail
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People cannot repay loans Banks run out of money People take money out of banks – bank runs occur People lose savings/ no longer buy goods
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The New Deal
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New Deal Changed Gov’t Role The New Deal altered permanently the role of American government in the economy. It also fostered changes in people’s attitudes toward government’s responsibilities.
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1. President Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) a.Thought that the economy would fix itself and that the government should not get involved (laissez-faire) b.Provided little direct assistance to the people suffering from the Depression c.People blamed him for the continuation of the Depression
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2. Election of 1932 VS Franklin D. Roosevelt Herbert Hoover
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FDR handily defeats Hoover – elected to fix the Great Depression
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3. New Deal Plan Add $$ to the economy (welfare, jobs) More $$ to spend Buy more goods Companies have more profit More jobs created. Workers hired.
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4. Goals of the New Deal R R R elief ecovery eform for the unemployed for the economy of the economic systems
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5. The New Deal At Work a.Roosevelt rallied the nation with his inaugural address …. “WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF” b.Used the Radio to deliver fireside chat c.Alphabet Agencies a. GOAL: Create jobs and stimulate the economy, while restoring worker’s self- esteem
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Fireside Chat: Video
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MissionProgramHow Did It Work? R elief -- Provided direct payment to people for immediate help Works Progress Administration (WPA) Employed men and women to do public works, research and artistic projects R ecovery-- Designed to bring nation out of depression over time AAA Increased government regulation of crop production and payments to farmers R eform-- Corrected unsound banking and investment practices Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Insured all savings in banks, helped restore confidence in banks Social Security Act Offered safeguards for workers by providing unemployment benefits and retirement
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Impact of the New Deal Changed the role of Government (more active role) The legacy of the New Deal influenced the public’s belief in the responsibility of government to: – Deliver public services – Intervene in the economy – Act in ways that promote the general welfare
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