It’s a ‘GREAT’ day in History It’s a ‘GREAT’ day in History M. Seal MS Studies

The Great Flood of

William Alexander Percy Before Red Cross arrived, a makeshift tent city was established on a levee in Greenville. Before Red Cross arrived, a makeshift tent city was established on a levee in Greenville. Mr. Percy headed the relief committee in Greenville. Mr. Percy headed the relief committee in Greenville. He initiated a plan to have refugees moved by steamboats to Vicksburg (south) or Memphis (north). He initiated a plan to have refugees moved by steamboats to Vicksburg (south) or Memphis (north).

Levee Guards Levee guards were placed along the top of the levee and ordered to maintain them from danger of a break that might allow water to enter the area it protected. Levee guards were placed along the top of the levee and ordered to maintain them from danger of a break that might allow water to enter the area it protected. As the water rose on the levee, it was the levee guard’s duty to fill sandbags and place them on top of the levee in order to stay ahead of the water height. As the water rose on the levee, it was the levee guard’s duty to fill sandbags and place them on top of the levee in order to stay ahead of the water height.

Miller Bend & Mound Landing Two levee areas north of Greenville Two levee areas north of Greenville A break in either one would flood the town of 15,000 A break in either one would flood the town of 15,000 Levee in Mound Landing gave way on April 21,1927 Levee in Mound Landing gave way on April 21,1927 Crack in levee was so large that one million acres of land were covered with ten feet of water within ten days Crack in levee was so large that one million acres of land were covered with ten feet of water within ten days

Refugee Camps Areas along higher ground (usually a levee) where refugees would establish shelter Areas along higher ground (usually a levee) where refugees would establish shelter The Red Cross visited these camp to pass out tents, establish kitchens, and distribute typhoid shots and immunizations The Red Cross visited these camp to pass out tents, establish kitchens, and distribute typhoid shots and immunizations Required African American families to work in flood control and later, recovery efforts; eventually created tension Required African American families to work in flood control and later, recovery efforts; eventually created tension

The Great Depression

The Great Depression Began on ‘Black Tuesday’ October 29, 1929 – the day the stock market crashed (a panic of individuals who quickly sell stocks and encourage others to sell, which means there is no financial backing of corporations; a decline of double digits in the stock market) Began on ‘Black Tuesday’ October 29, 1929 – the day the stock market crashed (a panic of individuals who quickly sell stocks and encourage others to sell, which means there is no financial backing of corporations; a decline of double digits in the stock market)

The Great Depression (cont’d) Unemployment was at an unprecedented high. Unemployment was at an unprecedented high. Jobs were virtually non-existent. Jobs were virtually non-existent. Banks failed daily. Banks failed daily. Prices of farm products fell to an all-time low. Prices of farm products fell to an all-time low. People waited patiently in soup lines for a handout of food. People waited patiently in soup lines for a handout of food. Families lost their homes and businesses because they could not pay their property taxes. Families lost their homes and businesses because they could not pay their property taxes.

Example of Effects on Mississippi According to an article in The Literary Digest, a national news magazine, on a single day in April 1932 one-fourth of the real property in Mississippi, including 20 percent of all farms and 15 percent of town property, went under the auctioneer’s gavel and was sold to pay taxes. The sales, conducted by 74 sheriffs, included about 40,000 farms. Most of the property went to the state of Mississippi which already owned about one million acres. According to an article in The Literary Digest, a national news magazine, on a single day in April 1932 one-fourth of the real property in Mississippi, including 20 percent of all farms and 15 percent of town property, went under the auctioneer’s gavel and was sold to pay taxes. The sales, conducted by 74 sheriffs, included about 40,000 farms. Most of the property went to the state of Mississippi which already owned about one million acres.

The New Deal Current president Herbert H. Hoover thought the Great Depression was just “a passing incident in our national lives” and government should not get involved; it would end on its own. Current president Herbert H. Hoover thought the Great Depression was just “a passing incident in our national lives” and government should not get involved; it would end on its own. President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933, replacing Hoover. President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933, replacing Hoover. Over the next eight years, Roosevelt and his administration instituted a series of projects and programs in an attempt to recover from the Great Depression. Over the next eight years, Roosevelt and his administration instituted a series of projects and programs in an attempt to recover from the Great Depression.

William M. Colmer United States Representative of the sixth congressional district in Mississippi; heavily involved in the New Deal United States Representative of the sixth congressional district in Mississippi; heavily involved in the New Deal Received numerous letters from Mississippians during his first term giving him their views on all issues. Received numerous letters from Mississippians during his first term giving him their views on all issues. He read their letters and responded He read their letters and responded Served from 1932 to 1973 Served from 1932 to 1973

Social Security Act People who were too old to work or physically unable to work continued to suffer economic hardship. People who were too old to work or physically unable to work continued to suffer economic hardship. Benefits under the original act (1935) bear little resemblance to benefits under social security today. The original act provided for a maximum pension of $30 a month based on a 50 percent federal-state match of funds to people over sixty-five. Benefits under the original act (1935) bear little resemblance to benefits under social security today. The original act provided for a maximum pension of $30 a month based on a 50 percent federal-state match of funds to people over sixty-five.

Social Security Act (cont’d) Slight problem: The payment of maximum benefits to all Mississippians over sixty-five in 1935 would have cost almost as much as the entire Mississippi budget for the year. Slight problem: The payment of maximum benefits to all Mississippians over sixty-five in 1935 would have cost almost as much as the entire Mississippi budget for the year. SSA gave states the power to decide eligibility requirements and monthly payment to recipients. SSA gave states the power to decide eligibility requirements and monthly payment to recipients. Sooooooo…… Sooooooo……

Social Security Act (cont’d) Mississippi limited payment to those people who owned nothing and who had no means of support whatsoever. Mississippi limited payment to those people who owned nothing and who had no means of support whatsoever. Those Mississippians drawing pensions only received an average monthly payment of around $6.40 a month in 1940 and around $9.00 a month in 1944 at a time when the price of goods rose drastically. Those Mississippians drawing pensions only received an average monthly payment of around $6.40 a month in 1940 and around $9.00 a month in 1944 at a time when the price of goods rose drastically.