1. Life in the Great Depression 1929-1932

2. 1. Unemployment  Thousands of businesses shut down (esp. luxury items/services)  Millions of workers were unemployed  Estimated 13million+ ; 25%+  Without work…there’s no income  Families struggled to pay bills and buy food  Spending decreased  “Downward Spiral”

3. 2. Hoovervilles  Families struggled to pay mortgage  Banks foreclosed on family's homes  Foreclose = when banks take away property  Some built shacks just outside of town  Made of cardboard boxes, metal sheets, or leftover wood  Small, no water, dirty, “rundown”  Named after Pres. Hoover – blamed him

4. 3. Surviving in the City  Employment agencies were overloaded with unemployed  Some sold fruit for money  Others washed windows  Some cities set up relief aid  Relief = public assistance provided for free (food, clothing, shelter, etc.)  Bread lines, soup kitchens offered free food to those in need  In time, became too full  Some begged for money  Others simply wanted a job

5. 4. Farmers Struggle  During WWI, farmers took out loans to buy more land  After the war there was no need for so much land  Supply became too high, farmers lost money  Couldn’t pay off debt on land  Banks foreclosed on farmers  Many farmers lost their land  Severe drought increased the challenge – Dust Bowl  Millions of acres of farmland destroyed  Added to unemployment

6. 5. Heading West  People needed to find work  Many people headed west  California = jobs (mostly unaffected during the Depression)  Packed the car and left or…  Others rode the train  Some illegally  Train-hopping from town to town  Looking for work/food  Became the birth of the American Hobo

7. 6. President Hoover Responds  Hoover did not want the federal gov’t to overreact  “The economy will fix itself”  Finally realized he was wrong  Started gov’t programs to create jobs (built Hoover Dam)  But didn’t provide gov’t relief  Believed in private charity (giving)  Charity not enough to help  People lost hope in Hoover  Looked for someone else to lead in the next election (1932)