Great Depression Quiz

What was the nationwide unemployment rate during the Great Depression in the United States?

• Nearly 15%

• Nearly 25%

• Nearly 35%

• Nearly 45%

Which two events are often used as benchmarks for the start of the Great Depression?

• Black Thursday and Black Saturday

• Black Monday and Black Friday

• Black Thursday and Black Tuesday

• Black Wednesday and Black Sunday

What was one of the main social and psychological impacts of the Great Depression on people?

• It increased people's faith in the American Dream.

• It had little to no impact on people's lives.

• It created a sense of helplessness and challenged their faith in the American Dream.

• It led to widespread optimism about economic recovery.

What exacerbated the farmers' struggle during the early 1930s?

• A series of mild weather conditions

• A series of long droughts

• Improved farming techniques

• Government subsidies

What was the Dust Bowl?

• A celebration during the Great Depression

• A natural disaster involving massive floods

• A severe drought and dust storm phenomenon that affected the Great Plains

• A government program to help farmers

Which book by John Steinbeck chronicles the devastating effect of the Dust Bowl on a family?

• East of Eden

• Of Mice and Men

• The Pearl

• The Grapes of Wrath

What was one of the main reasons families lost their land during the Dust Bowl?

• They were unable to repay bank loans.

• They sold their land voluntarily.

• The government confiscated their land.

• Natural disasters destroyed their land.

What replaced the labor of hundreds of people when agribusinesses took over the land?

• Migrant farm workers

• Local community volunteers

• Tractors

• Handbills

Which novel by Steinbeck was directly influenced by the struggles of agricultural laborers and the labor union strikes in California?

• Of Mice and Men

• The Grapes of Wrath

• Dubious Battle

• The Harvest Gypsies

What was the outcome for the families who lost their land to foreclosure?

• They were given new land by the government.

• They had a chance to buy their land back.

• They had little chance to continue working as farmers or laborers.

• They were employed by the agribusinesses that took over their land.