Drill

• Describe two economic causes of the Great Depression.

The Effects of the Great Depression

I. The Depression on the Farms

I. Farmers• First group of people to fall into the

depression• During WWI farmers made a lot of money

providing food to the allies• During the 1920’s, farmers produced the

same amount of food, but the allied countries no longer needed it

• Prices were pushed so low that it cost too much to transport their crops to the market

II. Dust Bowl

Causes: -Years long drought in the Great Plains-Over farming drained the nutrients from the

soil, turning the soil into dirt or dustAreas affected-The Great Plains- TX, KA, SD, OK, CO

Dust Bowl Cont.

Results:-Frequent dust storms-Crop failure season after season-Banks foreclosed on people’s farms-Many were forced to move west as migrant

workers-The main destination was CA

II. Migrant Farm Families

Migrant Families

-Competition for jobs caused low wagesCalled Okies- a slur against migrants from the Great Plains

-Migrant camps were dirty and overcrowded-Often the whole family worked meaning

children sacrificed their education

III. Life in cities during the Depression

Unemployment

-Businesses laid off workers as they reduced production-Unemployment was nearly 25% in 1932-Working women were criticized for taking men’s jobs-Minorities lost jobs to whites

Bank Failures

-Bank runs were frequent causing bank failures-People lost their savings-No banks, meant no loans to stimulate spending

Homelessness

-Jobless and without their savings many became homeless-set up shantytowns, nicknamed Hoovervilles mocking the president

Relief Efforts

-Charities and local governments did their best to provide relief-Soup kitchens and breadlines were long

-Men often would abandoned their families as they felt worthless

-Children did their best to find work or search for scrapes of food in the trash

-Protests were held in cities for more relief efforts-Some people were turning to socialism and communism as they felt the capitalist system had failed.

BCR

• What problems caused by the Depression do you feel are the most important for the government to solve?

• Explain how you would expect the government to solve these problems if they were happening today.

• Use as much detail as possible in your answer.