US History

J. High

US HistoryHigh

Farm Prices

$0 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50 $60 $70

1929

1933

1937

1941

Yea

r

Prices Received by Famers

Bank Failures

010002000300040005000

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

Year

# of

Ban

k Fa

ilur

es

050

100150200250300

Ind

ex o

f V

alue

Year

Construction Trends, 1919-1939

1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938

US 100 90 81 73 72 73 78 97 100 98

Japan 100 95 95 103 112 112 118 125 131 145

Canada 100 95 83 73 70 71 78 90 100 102

Europe 100 97 91 90 94 97 102 107 113 116

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

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160

Years

Worldwide Economic Growth

Millions of

Dollars

United States Business Cycle, 1890-1940

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

$30

1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932

Dol

lars

Per

Sha

re

Year

Stock Market Prices, 1921-1932

02468

101214

1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937 1939

Pri

ce I

ndex

Year

The Stock Market, 1919-1939

Volume of Sales on the NY Stock Exchange( in millions of shares)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Bil

lion

s of

Dol

lars

Years

Consumer Debt, 1920-1931

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

Civ

ilia

n L

abor

For

ce U

nem

ploy

men

t (p

erce

nt)

Years

Unemployment, 1925-1945

0

10

20

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50

60

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1925 1930 1935 1940 1945

Dol

lars

(in

Bill

ions

)

Years

Wages and Salaries

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1928 1932 1936 1940 1944

Thousands of

Failures

Years

US Business Failures, 1928-1944

Expansion

Peak

Contraction

Recession

Depression

Recovery

1.What is the main concern of American citizens depicted in the cartoon?

2.Why do you think the artist chose a wave to represent Economic Peril?

3.Roosevelt, Hoover, and Smith are the Presidential candidates in 1932.

Consider the dilemma facing the American citizen and identify which campaign is going to capture the MOST votes.

Peril- exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger

18

J. High

US History

19

We're in the Money," lyrics by Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren (from the film Gold Diggers of 1933, 1933)

We're in the money, we're in the money; We've got a lot of what it takes to get along! We're in the money, that sky is sunny, Old Man Depression you are through, you done us wrong. We never see a headline about breadlines today. And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eyeWe're in the money, come on, my honey, Let's lend it, spend it, send it rolling along!  

20

The Bonus Expeditionary Force was a group of World War I veterans along with their families who participated in a demonstration in Washington, D.C., in 1932. The purpose of the demonstration was to receive payment of a bonus that had been promised to them in 1924 for reward for their service. The bonus payment was to be allocated to the veterans in 1945, but due to the widespread economic depression many needed the funds immediately.The bill that would have enabled the disbursement of funds was passed in the House of Representatives, but rejected in the Senate. The veterans were offered reimbursement for travel home, which some accepted. Others stayed in the capitol to live a vagrant-like lifestyle; others became violent, which resulted in assaults against the police. Once the assaults occurred federal forces were used to clear the city of the marchers. The clearing of the camps resulted in the wounding of hundreds of veterans, as well as several deaths. Although this temporarily solved the problem, once Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, portions of the Bonus Army returned to the city to plead their case again. This time, although the president did not support the bonus bill, he and Eleanor were both concerned with the plight of the veterans. Eleanor served as an ambassador to many of the troops, spending time talking to many. Roosevelt did veto the bill; however the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration were attempts to employ many of the veterans that were in need. It was not until 1936 that Congress officially passed a bill that arranged for benefits to be disbursed to veterans. 

21

Walker Evans, "Floyd Burroughs and Tengle children, Hale County, Alabama," Summer 1936.

22

As agricultural technology took off in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the American Great Plains became the nation's breadbasket. New technology -- specifically, the widespread use of tractors -- exponentially increased the amount of land exposed to the plow. In the early 1930s, however, the ecological companion to the economic devastation of the Great Depression struck -- severe drought, accompanied by high winds, left thousands of acres without any form of ground covering to prevent erosion. As a result, the high winds picked up millions of tons of soil and deposited it across the country. At first, the enormity of the dust storms inspired amazement and awe; however, that sense of wonder soon gave way to despair, as the constantly blowing dust turned day into night and left people asking if "this was the wrath of God." As you examine this image, consider the effect that such photographs had on government officials and the broader American public as they sought political solutions to the suffering caused by the Great Depression.

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32

GERMAN DEPRESSION(Deutsch Marks)

33

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That's all right, Mr. President. We can just shake hands with ourselves. 1.In your own words, describe what each cartoon means.

2. What additional information is added by the captions?

3. What character traits and values is the cartoonist emphasizing?

4. What kind of influence do you think cartoons have on how the public perceives political officials, especially the president?  

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Economic Peril

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F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

37

F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

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F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

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F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

F.D.R. (D) Hoover (R)

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43

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1932 Election

Citizen in boat:

“Help! Roosevelt, Hoover, Smith, Oh! Anybody!

1. What is the main concern of American citizens depicted in the cartoon?

2.  Why do you think the artist chose a wave to represent Economic Peril?

3. Roosevelt, Hoover, and Smith are the Presidential candidates in 1932.

4. Consider the dilemma facing the American citizen and identify which campaign is going to capture the MOST votes.

The 1932nd Psalm E. J. Sullivan wrote the following satire in 1932.

 

“Hoover is my shepherd, I am in want,

He maketh me to lie down on park benches,

He leadeth me by still factories,

He restoreth my doubt in the

Republican Party.

He guided me in the path of the

Unemployed for his party’sake,

Yea, though I walk through the alley of the soup kitchens,

I am hungry.

I do not fear evil, for thou art against me;

Thy Cabinet and thy Senate, they do discomfort me;

Thou didst prepare a reduction in my wages;

In the presence of my creditors thou anointed my income with taxes,

So my expense overruneth my income.

Surely proverty and hard times will follow me

All the days of the Republican administration.

And I shall dwell in a rented house forever.

Amen.”

1. What was the author’s opinion of Hoover?

2. How may this song have influenced the American public? Voters?

THIS IS ON YOUR

HANDOUT!

Hoover’s PoliciesProgram/

EffortDescription Effectiveness

Relationship to Rugged

Individualism

Would you support this

program?Why/Why Not?

President’s Committee

for Unemployme

nt Relief (PCUR)

Encourage public to donate to charities

Red Cross, YMCA

Ineffective b/c spent $157,000 spent

Completely voluntary

Relieved government of responsibility to the people

No – because there is too much

depending on public generosity

Yes – spreading a positive comm. Att

Encourage ind.

public-worksprograms

Federal contract awarded to construction projects w/in statesPublic Buildings, highway, dam

Ineffective $800 mill

Projects ran out w/out a perm. improvement

Encouraged companies to be productive for funding

No – agreed with Mellon (laissez faire) & Social

DarwinismYes – did provide

jobs, stimulate eco

agricultural efforts

Federal Farm Board$500 mill for loans, supplies, and storage

BoooooPlanted more crops and lowers pricesBut helped get supplies…saved some farms

Didn’t give people direct relieve JUST encouraged farmers to help themselves : (

Yes – relieved some stress on

farmers

No – giving farmers what they didn’t

need

Reconstruction Finance

Corporation (RFC)

Federal Gov. gave tax payer money to LARGE CORPORATIONS!!!

Helped some large corp. avoid collapseDidn’t help small business

Didn’t give to individual AmericansTrying to “trickle down” –MellonGeneral Pop. Needs more

No – some good, but isn’t addressing

the most severe problem

No -

Hoover’s PoliciesProgram/

EffortDescription Effectiveness

Relationship to Rugged

Individualism

Would you support this

program?Why/Why Not?

President’s Committee

for Unemployme

nt Relief (PCUR)

Designed to assist state/local effort to give to charitiesYMCA, Salvation Army, RedCrossApproach wealthy people

Raised some money but not enough to have a lasting impact

Involved private donations – all voluntary

Yes – helps needyNo – the

government needs to do more than

asking for aid, need tax

public-worksprograms

Gov provided contracts/material to states (roads, dam, bridges)

Temporary b/c gave jobsNot enough – to change perm.

Money is going to people for jobs doneNot $$ for nothing

Yes – provided jobs & infrastructure

agricultural efforts

Federal Farm Board offered $$$ - seeds, pay loans, materials

Effect priced neg. or not at allReduce expenses : )

Not giving direct reliefFarm harder

No – b.c they needDirect $$$

Price control!!

Reconstruction Finance

Corporation (RFC)

Lend billl in tax $$ to stabilize banks, RR comp, insurance, BIG BUSINESS“trickle down”

Represented major shift in governmentGov involvement

No direct aid to people BUT helped indirectly

No – missed the most severe victims

of the GD

WWI Veteran Bonus (1924) Veterans Lobby &

Congress Acts

“Bonus Army” Marches to Washington D.C. (1932)

“Bonus City”Hoover Calls MacArthur

Army Chief of Staff

Two Killed

Several Injured

Public Outrage

BONUS ARMY

“mob…animated by the essence of revolution”

Washington Press

“What a pitiful spectacle is that of the great American

Government, mightier in the world, chasing unarmed men,

women, and children with army tanks”

WARM UP!!

Directions- Write your answer on the back of your Election1932 packet

1. What common event of the Great Depression is depicted in these photos?

2. Describe how President Hoover addressed the problem.

3. Identify TWO solutions that would be MORE effective than the Hoover approach.

Hoover vs. Roosevelt

1. Why is Hoover unable to shake the “ordinary citizen’s” hand?

2. Which of Hoover’s character traits and values is the cartoonist emphasizing?

3. How will this portrayal of President Hoover affect the public’s opinion of the President?

“That's all right, Mr. President. We can just shake hands with ourselves”

Source: http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu Darling, 1929