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Understanding the Great Depression: Causes, Effects, and Government Response

This unit explores the Great Depression (1929-1940), a severe economic downturn characterized by prolonged unemployment, widespread poverty, and a transformation of government roles. Students will analyze the definition of a depression, identify its root causes—including wealth inequality, agricultural overproduction, and shaky banking systems—and assess the impact on American society. The unit also evaluates government actions under President Hoover and their effectiveness during the crisis. Key concepts include the stock market crash, personal debt, and the challenges faced by everyday citizens.

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Understanding the Great Depression: Causes, Effects, and Government Response

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  1. The Great Depression (1929-40) Unit Objectives Analyze and Explain: 1. What a “depression” is 2. Causes of the “Gr. Dep.” 3. Solutions? 4. How it affected people 5. Re-shaping role of gov’t

  2. What is a depression? • When an economy stops growing for 6 months…called a “recession” • Symptoms of a recession: - Business failures - Unemployment rises • Homes lost - Hunger, divorce, crime • Depression= a prolonged or particularly severe recession A recession on steroids???

  3. Root Causes of Great Depression • #1: Uneven distribution of wealth • While the overall economy boomed in the 1920s, the wealth created by the boom flowed to only a small %... • half of American families lived in poverty

  4. #2: Agriculture • Overproduction & low prices • Farmers produced more…drove prices even lower • Farmers couldn’t make payments on farms & equipment • Banks repossessed farms & equip

  5. #3: Personal Debt • New technologies, products, and advertising techniques created a mass consumption in the 1920s • But people bought on credit… went into debt to acquire modern conveniences (“installment plan”)

  6. #4: Shaky Banking System • Many banks also invested depositor’s $ in the stock market • Many banks were unable to cope with the number of defaulted loans…simply closed their doors and went out of business

  7. #5: Gov’t. Policy • Commonly accepted belief: “laissez faire” • not the role of gov’t to interfere with markets • Not much regulation (control)

  8. The Catalyst? Stock Mkt. Crash • Many individuals investors had bought stock “on margin” • Stock prices declining in late summer • Big sell-off on “Black Thursday” Oct. 24, 1929 • Total collapse “Black Tuesday” Oct. 29th • Many were wiped out…financially ruined

  9. Panic and A Run on Banks • Banks were mobbed by depositors wanting to get their money out… • Many banks went under • Many Americans lost entire life savings

  10. Hoover’s response… • President Hoover stated publicly that “the Government should not support the people.” • Believed in “rugged individualism” (people rescuing themselves by their own efforts)

  11. Hoover eventually acted… • spent hundreds of millions of dollars on public works projects such as: • the construction of Boulder (later renamed Hoover) Dam in Nevada. • The Federal Farm Boardloaned farmers money and bought up tons of their surplus crops • Called on churches & charities to offer more help

  12. Hoover’s response (con’t.) • However, these policies did not go far enough to help those who needed it most, and economic conditions did not improve

  13. HHH blamed & criticized… • “Hoovervilles: shanty towns of “houses” made from wood scraps, newspaper, etc.

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