1. Life During the Great Depression

2. Unemployment
Overproduction caused the price of goods to drop and factories to close
People were laid off (fired) as companies closed
Led to massive unemployment in the United States
: Unemployment goes from 4 to 12 million
1933 – 25% unemployed

3. Jobless Became Homeless
Unemployed workers were unable to pay rent and became homeless
People migrated looking for work
Walked from town to town hoping to find work
Children had to quit school and look for jobs (Kids as young as 7)
People stood in “Bread” lines for food

4. People who lost their homes in the 1930s

5. Houses made out of boxes, tins, and newspaper
Lived here….
Homeless people lived in city parks or open fields
These new towns were “shanty towns” called “Hoovervilles”
People called them “Hoovervilles because people blamed President Hoover for not doing more to end the crisis
Houses made out of boxes, tins, and newspaper

8. Click pic to play Hooverville song
Click pic to play Hooverville song

9. What do you think this is?
During the Great Depression, people were desperate!
People were force to learn how to survive.
What do you think this is?
This is a coat made out a feed
sack. Many people
made curtains, clothes, table
clothes, etc. Not all feed sacks
were this drab. After a while
feed sacks where made with flowered
patterns so people could use the
material.

10. In one school, a teacher ordered a thin girl to go home to eat
In one school, a teacher ordered a thin girl to go home to eat. “I can't,” replied the girl. “This is my sister's day to eat.”
“I would take off my glasses so I would not see the bugs on the food from the trash.”

11. Poor Man’s meal Peel and cube potatoes Fry in a pan with oil
Add in a chopped onion
Cook until onions are browned
Add in hot dogs, and cook a few minutes more

12. Veterans WWI Veterans were promised a bonus in 1945
Poor veterans wanted the bonus early (1932)
20,000 Veterans went to Washington D.C. in order to protest (called the Bonus March) and demand their bonus
Hoover did not agree to give the bonus money, and many left
When some veterans refused to leave, Hoover sent in army (led by Eisenhower & McArthur), used tear gas, and burned camp

13. What does a dust storm look like?
Dust Bowl
a major dust storm hit the Midwest
What does a dust storm look like?

15. Dust Bowl Clouds of dust swarmed into people’s towns and homes
Results:
Thousands of farm animals died due to lack of water
Dust covered the sky: Farmers crops were ruined and farmers lost money
Farmers LOST FARMS
Many farmers moved to California to find job, but were not wanted in West and were called “Oakies”

17. America Needed Assistance
Americans asked the government and President Hoover for help
Hoover said it was up to each state and local town to help people, and he believed that the economy would recover on its own
Problem –
There were too many people who needed help
Not enough money to help everyone
Americans blamed Hoover
Hoover lost re-election in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hoover promised prosperity during his 1928 presidential campaign. ‘A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.”
It’s risky to spend lots of government money on programs that may or may not actually help!