The Great Depression

How did the stock market crash affect business?

• They lost business and had to lay off employees. Many went out of business.

• The crash sent many to the hospital.

• There were earthquakes.

• Many trees fell as a result.

Why did President Hoover not help the unemployed?

• There were other departments that handled emergencies.

• Hoover thought the government needed protected.

• Hoover thought that state and local governments, and charities should help the needy. He also thought the economy would snap back.

• Hoover was focused on getting re-elected, not the stock market.

List three factors that caused the Great Depression:

• Europe had been too successful after WWI.

• Wall Street preferred to focus on farming alone.

• There were too many immigrants.

• In the 1920’s businesses overproduced.

  People bought more than they could afford on credit.

  Foreign countries bought few American goods.

What effects did the Depression have on the American people?

• Americans started building fallout shelters.

• Americans lost confidence and were fearful that the country would not recover. Many people were poor and homeless.

• Americans began burning their cars and trucks.

• There were no ill effects from the Depression.

What were breadlines?

• Breadlines were places where people lined up to receive free food.

• Breadlines were a game created to keep children busy.

• Breadlines later became pretzels which were sold in the cities.

• Breadlines enabled singers to continue working in movies.

Hoovervilles were ___during the Great Depression.

• places where homeless people lived

• government agencies created by President Hoover

• farms on the Great Plains that people left

• new banks named after president Hoover

Many people bought things on credit. This meant they ___when they lost their jobs.

• could buy many things

• could not pay their debt

• bought only foreign goods

• did not have to pay for anything

The Dust Bowl was caused by ___.

• the stock market crash

• the overuse of farmland

• people living in Hoovervilles

• drought and dust storms

African Americans were often the ___.

• last hired and last fired

• first hired and first fired

• last hired and first fired

• first hired and last hired

About 4% of Americans were unemployed___.

• in 1930

• in 1933

• before 1929

• after 1929