1. The Great Depression November 26, 2012

2. Social Studies Warm-up #12 Vocabulary Boll Weevil Boll Weevil Drought Drought Economic Factors Economic Factors Great Depression Great Depression New Deal New Deal Social Security Act (SSA) Social Security Act (SSA) Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Rural Electrification [Administration] (REA Rural Electrification [Administration] (REA Lesson Essential Questions: 1. How did the boll weevil and drought impact Georgia? (SS8H8a) 2. What factors led to the Great Depression and how did it impact Georgia? (SS8H8b) 3. How did the New Deal programs impact Georgia and American society? (SS8H8d) 4. How did the political career of Eugene Talmadge impact Georgia?

3. After World War I… When World War I ended in 1918, a rebellion against the social and moral reforms happened in the U.S. When World War I ended in 1918, a rebellion against the social and moral reforms happened in the U.S. The 1920s was a decade of huge social changes The 1920s was a decade of huge social changes It was a struggle between “old” and “new” America It was a struggle between “old” and “new” America –A more modern, urban culture battled against the old rural, traditional culture

4. The Roaring Twenties The popular image of the 1920s is of prosperity, bootleggers and gangsters, jazz, and dancers The popular image of the 1920s is of prosperity, bootleggers and gangsters, jazz, and dancers However, the 20s were also a period of deep social unrest However, the 20s were also a period of deep social unrest Immigrants (Italians, Irish, etc.) were discriminated against Immigrants (Italians, Irish, etc.) were discriminated against Racial tensions ran high between blacks and whites Racial tensions ran high between blacks and whites Religious tensions increased with the debate over evolution Religious tensions increased with the debate over evolution

5. Georgia in the 1920s For many Georgians, the 1920s was not a time for abundance For many Georgians, the 1920s was not a time for abundance The boll weevil, a type of beetle, was destroying the cotton crop The boll weevil, a type of beetle, was destroying the cotton crop It destroyed 1000s of acres of Georgia’s cotton fields It destroyed 1000s of acres of Georgia’s cotton fields Drought also hit in 1924, which ruined many of Georgia’s other crops Drought also hit in 1924, which ruined many of Georgia’s other crops Many farms failed and farm-related businesses closed, which caused many farm workers to leave Georgia Many farms failed and farm-related businesses closed, which caused many farm workers to leave Georgia This caused Georgia’s economy to sink into a depression This caused Georgia’s economy to sink into a depression

6. Causes of the Great Depression There were many, many factors that led up to the Great Depression There were many, many factors that led up to the Great Depression People had borrowed more money than they could repay People had borrowed more money than they could repay Factories had produced more goods than they could sell Factories had produced more goods than they could sell Farmers had overproduced their crops Farmers had overproduced their crops People had been buying and selling in the Stock Market, making the stocks higher then what they were worth People had been buying and selling in the Stock Market, making the stocks higher then what they were worth

7. The Stock Market Crashes On a Thursday in October 1929, a huge wave of sell orders shook the Stock Exchange On a Thursday in October 1929, a huge wave of sell orders shook the Stock Exchange Stock prices plunged, but things recovered and got back on track Stock prices plunged, but things recovered and got back on track The next week, prices started falling again on Monday The next week, prices started falling again on Monday On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, there was a mad rush to sell as many stocks as possible causing the worst crash in the Stock Market’s history On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, there was a mad rush to sell as many stocks as possible causing the worst crash in the Stock Market’s history Because people had borrowed money from banks to buy stock, when the market crashed, they lost their money and could not repay the banks Because people had borrowed money from banks to buy stock, when the market crashed, they lost their money and could not repay the banks Banks failed, people lost jobs because businesses closed, then lost their homes because they could not pay their mortgage Banks failed, people lost jobs because businesses closed, then lost their homes because they could not pay their mortgage

8. Franklin D. Roosevelt In 1932, 3 years after the Depression started, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected U.S. President In 1932, 3 years after the Depression started, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected U.S. President During his campaign, he had promised a “new deal for the American people” During his campaign, he had promised a “new deal for the American people” After taking office, he worked to keep that promise by urging Congress to pass a series of laws known as the New Deal that were aimed at bringing economic recovery, relieving suffering of the unemployed, reforming the economy, and improving society After taking office, he worked to keep that promise by urging Congress to pass a series of laws known as the New Deal that were aimed at bringing economic recovery, relieving suffering of the unemployed, reforming the economy, and improving society

9. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) The CCC was a New Deal program that provided jobs for young single men The CCC was a New Deal program that provided jobs for young single men They built forest trails, planted trees, and built parks They built forest trails, planted trees, and built parks The CCC was popular in Georgia because it built many of the facilities at our state parks (Kennesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain) The CCC was popular in Georgia because it built many of the facilities at our state parks (Kennesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain) Other CCC projects in Georgia included a seawall at Tybee Island, an airport in Macon, and improving Grady Hospital in Atlanta Other CCC projects in Georgia included a seawall at Tybee Island, an airport in Macon, and improving Grady Hospital in Atlanta

10. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) The AAA paid farmers NOT to plant crops on part of their land The AAA paid farmers NOT to plant crops on part of their land By limiting production, prices would go up based on the principle of supply and demand By limiting production, prices would go up based on the principle of supply and demand This helped Georgia recover from low cotton prices This helped Georgia recover from low cotton prices The drawback was that the payments went to the land owners, not the tenant farmers, and many lost their jobs because of decreased production The drawback was that the payments went to the land owners, not the tenant farmers, and many lost their jobs because of decreased production

11. Rural Electrification Authority (REA) In the 1920s, power companies had very few lines running to rural areas In the 1920s, power companies had very few lines running to rural areas The ones that did run there were expensive to maintain, making power bills higher in the rural areas The ones that did run there were expensive to maintain, making power bills higher in the rural areas The REA loaned over $300 million so power lines could be extended in rural areas The REA loaned over $300 million so power lines could be extended in rural areas This made farm life easier with the use of electric water pumps, lights, milking machines, and appliances This made farm life easier with the use of electric water pumps, lights, milking machines, and appliances

12. Social Security The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, was designed to provide retirement and unemployment insurance from taxes paid by workers and their employers The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, was designed to provide retirement and unemployment insurance from taxes paid by workers and their employers It helped reach the people who could not work, like children, the disabled, widows with children, and the elderly It helped reach the people who could not work, like children, the disabled, widows with children, and the elderly One drawback is that farm workers were not covered by Social Security One drawback is that farm workers were not covered by Social Security

13. Government in Georgia In 1933, Georgians elected a new governor – Eugene Talmadge In 1933, Georgians elected a new governor – Eugene Talmadge He was a conservative white supremacist who did not like federal government intervention or government debts He was a conservative white supremacist who did not like federal government intervention or government debts He really disliked the New Deal programs He really disliked the New Deal programs Instead of using federal money to help the unemployed, he would build new roads or highways Instead of using federal money to help the unemployed, he would build new roads or highways

14. Talmadge’s Second Term He was re-elected in 1934 He was re-elected in 1934 He fired officials who disagreed with him He fired officials who disagreed with him He refused to follow New Deal regulations and the federal government stepped in and ran the programs in Georgia He refused to follow New Deal regulations and the federal government stepped in and ran the programs in Georgia Because the Georgia constitution does not allow a governor to serve more than 2 consecutive terms, he ran for U.S. Senate in 1936, but lost Because the Georgia constitution does not allow a governor to serve more than 2 consecutive terms, he ran for U.S. Senate in 1936, but lost

15. Talmadge Returns In 1940, Talmadge ran for governor again and was elected In 1940, Talmadge ran for governor again and was elected He had softened his stance on the New Deal and the economy started growing He had softened his stance on the New Deal and the economy started growing Talmadge left with a bad legacy when he refused to allow Georgia’s colleges to integrate (allow all races to attend) Talmadge left with a bad legacy when he refused to allow Georgia’s colleges to integrate (allow all races to attend) Georgia was cast in a bad light around the country Georgia was cast in a bad light around the country Talmadge was not re-elected in 1942 Talmadge was not re-elected in 1942

16. Questions… 1) What struggle was represented in the 1920s? 1) What struggle was represented in the 1920s? 2) What types of social unrest were present in the “Roaring Twenties”? 2) What types of social unrest were present in the “Roaring Twenties”? 3) What destroyed the cotton crop in 1920s Georgia? 3) What destroyed the cotton crop in 1920s Georgia? 4) What came in 1924 that destroyed many of Georgia’s farms? 4) What came in 1924 that destroyed many of Georgia’s farms? 5) What were 4 causes that led up to the Great Depression? 5) What were 4 causes that led up to the Great Depression? 6) What ultimately caused the Great Depression in 1929? 6) What ultimately caused the Great Depression in 1929? 7) What was the term for Roosevelt’s series of laws that were designed to help the economy? 7) What was the term for Roosevelt’s series of laws that were designed to help the economy? 8) What was the purpose of the CCC? 8) What was the purpose of the CCC? 9) What were some CCC projects in Georgia? 9) What were some CCC projects in Georgia? 10) What did the AAA do? 10) What did the AAA do? 11) How did the AAA help Georgia? 11) How did the AAA help Georgia? 12) What was a drawback of the AAA? 12) What was a drawback of the AAA? 13) What did the REA do? 13) What did the REA do? 14) What was the Social Security Act designed to do? 14) What was the Social Security Act designed to do?

17. More Questions… 15) What group was not covered by Social Security? 15) What group was not covered by Social Security? 16) Who was elected as Georgia’s governor in 1933? 16) Who was elected as Georgia’s governor in 1933? 17) How did Talmadge feel about New Deal programs? 17) How did Talmadge feel about New Deal programs? 18) What caused Talmadge to leave office with a bad legacy? 18) What caused Talmadge to leave office with a bad legacy?