Download
1 / 12
120 likes | 209 Vues
Life during the Depression. Depression Worsens: By the Numbers. 1930- 1,325 banks suspended operations 1933- more than 9,000 banks had failed 1932- 30,000 companies had went bankrupted and closed their doors 1933- 12 million were unemployed which equaled ¼ of the work force
E N D
Depression Worsens: By the Numbers • 1930- 1,325 banks suspended operations • 1933- more than 9,000 banks had failed • 1932- 30,000 companies had went bankrupted and closed their doors • 1933- 12 million were unemployed which equaled ¼ of the work force • Average family income had dropped from 2,300 a year in 1929 to 1,600 a year in 1932 if that family still had jobs
Soup Kitchens • Bread lines: receive food such as day old bread for homeless and jobless • Soup Kitchens: kitchen in which homeless or jobless could get a meal “If you happened to be one of the first ones in line, you didn’t get anything but water that was on top…So we’d ask the guy that was ladling to please dip down and get some meat and potatoes from the bottom of the kettle. But he wouldn’t do it.”
Makeshift Villages • Some people did not move did not have the “constitution” • Those who did were displaced to “Shantytowns” or “Hoovervilles” • Young and adult men might become Hobos riding the rails from town to town
Dust Bowl • Crop prices dropped in the 20’s therefore, much of the land was left uncultivated • Land had been deep plowed removing all top soil and no grass or plant life to keep soil in place • Drought in 1932 left land dry • Wind storms would come and soil would blow away
Escaping the Depression • Hollywood and Radio • People would scrape together money • Movies during the time • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • Wizard of Oz • Radio • Soap Operas • Lone Ranger
Hoover’s Response • First organized railroads, business, and banks and asked them to voluntarily work on prices • However, as things got worse these organizations quickly abandoned what promises they had made. • Public Works • Public works is where the government would hire people to do building jobs (things like the Hoover Dam)
Hoover’s Response • Hoover tried to rescue the banks • Federal Reserve Board-was asked to increase circulation but refused • National Credit Corporation • Set-up in 1931 • Created a pool of money that troubled banks could borrow from and continue loaning money • Reconstruction Finance Corporation- • Help banks, railroads, corporations, and agricultural business. • Loan them money • $238 million to approximately 160 banks, 60 railroads, and to 18 building and loan operations • The business was overly cautious and did not make enough loans to keep up with the problems going on.
Hoover’s Response • Emergency Relief and Construction Act • 1.5 billion public works jobs • 300 million in loans for state direct relief
Hunger Marches • 1931 January Oklahoma City 500 men and women started shouting and looted grocery store • Hunger Rallies lead by American Communist Party • December 5th, Washington D.C. “feed the hungry tax the rich” • Police herded protestors into barricaded area refused the people • Food • Water • Medical aid
Farmers’ Revolt • Summer of 1932 • 1930 creditors forclosing • One million farms lost • Retaliated by • Using corn for heat in Nebraska • Destroying crops to raise prices
Bonus Army • 1924 WWI Veterans were awarded 1,000 dollar bonus to be distributed in 1945 • 1931 House put up early payment but the Senate debated it • March started in Portland, Oregon 1,000 Vets in uniform • 15000 by time reached the capitol • Stayed in Hoovervilles • Hoover refused to meet with them and they were ran out by current military • Two vets who were unarmed killed and a baby boy died from the use of gas in Hooverville
