1. Bleak Times Lead to Another War: Michigan in the 1930’s and 1940’s
Michigan History 13-1
USHG 7.1.2, 7.1.3
- CCC Map
“The Army, The Negro, and the Civilian Conservation Corps” article from JSTOR
A collection of primary sources regarding racial relations within the CCC

2. How Did the Great Depression Happen?
Those buying stock are only paying ten percent of its worth
The rest they say they will pay back later but rarely do
This means less coming into banks but more in the hands of the people
October, 1929 – Stock values drop
People hurry to withdraw their money from banks but none is available
Banks begin to close due to a lack of funds
Roughly 200 banks in Michigan closed as a result
People never got their money back
Brief example of how to buy stock
Banks needed to pay back loans

3. Results of the Great Depression
Less people are buying products, specifically Michigan-made cars
1929 – Roughly 4.5 million cars were sold
1931 – Less than 2 million cars were sold
Unemployment rate increased
Ford Rouge Plant employed 98,337 people
1933 – 28,915 now employed
63% of northern Michigan residents were on welfare
Companies that supplied raw materials to factories suffering
Michigan copper saw 50% losses
Michigan iron saw 90% losses
Citizens were unable to pay their taxes and lost their homes
1933 – Michigan had the highest rate of unpaid property taxes in the country

4. How to Help
President Herbert Hoover believed in “Rugged Individualism”
People should help themselves without government involvement
James Couzens left Ford Motor Company due to its initial resistance to helping England during World War I
Became Mayor of Detroit, Senator, and donated millions to causes in Michigan
Governor William Comstock institutes the first sales tax (3 cents per dollar) to ease the property tax so people wouldn’t lost their homes
Cities try public relief programs but struggled due to lack of funds
Father Charles Coughlin used radio and became wildly popular
His views, however, were very controversial

5. Help is on the Way! 1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President
First time Michigan voted for a Democratic candidate since 1852
Established the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Artists were hired to paint murals in buildings
Carpenters were hired to build public buildings
Road and highways are built
Established the Civilian Conservation Corps
Mostly in northern Michigan
Planted trees and fought wildfires
Lived a very army-style life with morning exercises and barracks

6. CCC Museum – Higgins Lake, MI