1. The effects of the great depression

2. Effects Nearly 25% of Americans were unemployed and/or homeless
Workers called hobos, went from town to town riding on the railroads illegally, looking for work
Collapse of financial system (bank closures)
Farm foreclosures and migration

3. Hoover’s Response
Rugged Individualism - belief that individuals should help and pickup themselves
Reflects ideas of Social Darwinism
Volunteerism - asking business to volunteer aid
But many pushed for direct relief - money and aid given by the federal government

4. Examples of Hoover’s Responses
Soup Kitchens/Bread Lines – cheap or free food offered to the poor through charitable organizations
Bonus Army (1932) – when 20,000 World War I veterans marched on Washington to demand an early payment of their promised bonuses
Congress votes no
Hoover decided the army should be removed and orders 1,000 soldiers to enforce it by burning tents and gassing others

5. Hoover Helps Banks Hoover did help banks and big businesses
Authorizes $2 billion in aid to failing banks believing the money would “trickle-down” and help stimulate the economy  it didn’t

6. Blame Hoover!
Hooverville –villages of shelters built out of scraps like cardboard, metal, paper, etc.
Hoover’s flag –pant pockets turned inside out to show the person had no money
Hoover blankets –newspapers that people used to keep warm with at night
Hoover’s policies viewed as a failure

8. Dust Bowl ( )
Time of little to no agricultural productivity due to over cultivation, drought, and high winds
Affected Great Plains region
Federal relief and conservation programs provided assistance, but many residents fled and migrated to California

10. Women in the Dust Bowl 1. What area of the US did the Dust Bowl hit?
2. When did the drought finally end?
3. What do they do with the dishes before each meal?
4. At School #3, teachers are also what else?
5. In what major city was the sun actually obscured?
6. At the end of her diary entries, what phrase does Low use to describe life during the Dust Bowl?