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Published byHugh Harrington Modified over 9 years ago
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Herbert Hoover Republican Pro-Prohibition Alfred E. Smith Democrat Anti-Prohibition
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Calvin Coolidge declined to run for a second term. Democrats nominated Al Smith (1 st Catholic nominated by a major American party) Republicans nominated Herbert Hoover The Campaign “wet’s vs. dry’s” Smith’s Catholicism was made an issue by Hoover supporters—not Hoover. Big boost for Republicans= the prosperity of the 1920’s.
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1920’s “ Bull Market ” convinced Americans to invest in stocks. “ Buying on margin ”- investors could purchase stocks with only a 10% down payment. If stock prices fell, stockbrokers could issue a “ margin call ”. Stock Speculation- because of the bull market, many investors bid up the price of stocks without considering the company’s earnings or profit.
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Bull market existed because of so many new customers – it began running out of new customers Investors started selling Stockbrokers made margin calls People began frantically selling stock Black Tuesday › Prices took the steepest dive Bull market existed because of so many new customers – it began running out of new customers Investors started selling Stockbrokers made margin calls People began frantically selling stock Black Tuesday › Prices took the steepest dive Result: the crash undermined the economy’s ability to hold out against other problems
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2 Problems › Loaned money to speculators › Invested deposited money in the stock market Bank Runs › Depositors began withdrawing all of their money 2 Problems › Loaned money to speculators › Invested deposited money in the stock market Bank Runs › Depositors began withdrawing all of their money
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Instead of raising interest rates to cut inflation, the FED kept the rates low › Encouraged banks to make risky loans › Led businesses to borrow more to expand At the last minute – Wrong Time!! › the FED made another mistake by raising interest rates Instead of raising interest rates to cut inflation, the FED kept the rates low › Encouraged banks to make risky loans › Led businesses to borrow more to expand At the last minute – Wrong Time!! › the FED made another mistake by raising interest rates
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Income Distribution › Most Americans dependent on installment plans for goods › Debt became high › Cut consumer spending › Production then slowed Income Distribution › Most Americans dependent on installment plans for goods › Debt became high › Cut consumer spending › Production then slowed Overproduction- key cause of the Depression. › Technology enabled businesses to produce more › Hawley Smoot Tariff Highest level ever Damaged export sales › US banks did not lend to foreigners to buy American goods Overproduction- key cause of the Depression. › Technology enabled businesses to produce more › Hawley Smoot Tariff Highest level ever Damaged export sales › US banks did not lend to foreigners to buy American goods
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Massive Unemployment › 30,000 companies out of business Soup Kitchens & Bread lines Shantytowns (aka Hoovervilles) › Communities of homeless Hobos › Homeless wanderers looking for food, work & shelter
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Term used to describe the Great Plains during the Great Depression 1932 Drought Winds whipped dust like snow over the crops & livestock Oakies › Farmers who gave up their farms & headed to California
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Escape through Movies & Radio Marlene Dietrich & Greta Garbo Walt Disney – Snow White & Seven Dwarfs Gone with the Wind Soap Operas – “Guiding Light” – radio
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Grant Wood – American Gothic John Steinbeck – Grapes of Wrath William Faulkner – The Sound & the Fury Margaret Bourke-White - Photographer
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Hoover was a self- made man (millionaire) Started poor (orphan) made his way to college. Believed “rugged individualism” would keep America moving forward. 1930-Organized a series of conferences with business leaders Business leaders promised to keep businesses open and keep wages stable. 1931-Business leaders broke promises.
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Public Works Projects › Government funded building projects. › How do you pay for it? Raise taxes? Run a budget deficit? › Ultimately, government did not spend enough to create many jobs.
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› National Credit Corporation (NCC) IN 1931. › Set aside a pool of money to allow troubled banks to keep lending. › Failure—not enough money to handle the massive problems. Reconstruction Finance Corporation › Set up by Federal government to make loans to banks, railroads & agriculture (1932). › Lent $238 million to 160 banks, 60 railroads, 18 banks. › Did not spend enough
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Relief- money given directly to the poor by the government. Hoover did not support this idea. He believed that only state & local governments should do this—not the federal government. 1932—Congress passed “ Emergency Relief and Construction Act ” Hoover reluctantly signed 1 st time US government supplied direct relief funds.
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Hunger Marches › Led by American Communist Party Farmers Revolt › Destroyed crops to raise the price Bonus Marchers › Veteran bonuses from WWI › Veterans marched on Washington = Bonus Army
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