The Great Depression

The Great Depression

Daily Life during the Depression:

• Children were forced to work

• Many people became homeless

• Many of the homeless lived in small villages made of cardboard boxes and crates nicknamed "hoovervilles" (named after President Hoover who is blamed for the Depression).

Open Ended

How did that photo we saw in the last slide make you feel?

Daily Life during the Depression:

• Some men and families became hobos- rode the rails looking for work and food

• Many farmers had more food than they could sell.

• People didn't have the money to buy it

• Some food was destroyed in an effort to decrease the supply so prices could increase

Daily Life during the Depression:

• Droughts occurred on the Great Plains

• This region became known as the Dust Bowl because it was so dry

• many moved west to California looking for work because the dust storms destroyed their crops.

• These people were often called okies because most were from Oklahoma

Daily Life during the Depression:

• The Grapes of Wrath (1939)- novel written by John Steinbeck about one family's struggle in moving to California

• President Hoover wasn't willing to spend enough money to provide relief to the people.

Daily Life during the Depression:

• Bonus Army March:

• in 1924 Congress approved a bonus payment to all who served during WWI

• The money was to be paid in 1945

• June 1932- 20,000 veterans marched into Washington D.C., set up camps, and said they wouldn't leave until they received their bonus.

Daily Life during the Depression:

• Hoover ordered the police to remove the protestors

• 2 veterans were killed-made Hoover look really bad

Franklin D. Roosevelt:

• Defeated Hoover in the election of 1932

• Cousin of Teddy Roosevelt

• Became ill with polio in 1921- forced him to use a wheelchair

• 1st President to use the radio regularly - "Fireside Chats" - explained his plans and programs to the people.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Handled the press well- ex: pictures not taken of him in his wheelchair (did not want to appear weak)

• Famous quote- "All we have to fear, is fear itself"

• The "Brian Trust" was a group of advisors that helped him- attorneys, economists, political scientists, etc.

Multiple Choice

What were FDR's radio announcements called

• Weekly updates

• Fireside Chats

Franklin D. Roosevelt:

• His wife Eleanor Roosevelt, was his most important advisor

• FDR said she was his "eyes and ears" outside the White House

• She could travel and meet with people he couldn't because of his disability.

Franklin D. Roosevelt:

• Bank Holiday- 1st action as President

• Closed every bank in the U.S. for 4 days

• Sent people out to determine which ones were strong and those re-opened.

• Almost all were re-opened

• Trying to restore confidence in banks - people began to put their money back in.

Poll

Do you think this strategy for the banks was a good thing to start with in trying to "fix" the Depression

• Yes

• No