The Aftermath of Black Tuesday How the Depression affected the lives of Americans
In the U.S., the 1920s was a decade of prosperity. Bold cultural ideas New inventions available to broad audiences CONFIDENCE in the U.S. economy
How did the U.S. Economy grow so much in the 1920s? Lots of new inventions –Automobiles –Radios –Telephones –Telegraphs Lots of supply, not enough demand Solution? Supply Demand
Financing! 60% of Americans financed automobiles in the 1920s 80% of Americans financed radios in the 1920s Created an artificial demand (people were imagining they had money that they didn’t)
The Stock Market in the 1920s A stock is a percentage – a piece - of a company. The value of stock is based on confidence in the total market for stocks, not the actual profits of that one company. The overall value of stock increased 120% from
The Upward Spiral (or so it seemed…) Americans borrowed money not just to buy goods, but also to buy stocks. Increased Spending Economic Confidence Desire to invest in stocks
Economic Danger Signs of the 1920s Over-speculation on stocks with borrowed money Large gaps between the rich and poor Post-WWI international economic slump
Income Inequality
Black Tuesday As rumors spread about inflated stock value, Americans started selling. Greatest stock market crash in U.S. History on October 29,1929
A wave of panic-selling hit!
What happened to consumers? Consumers were afraid of economic failure, so they stopped spending money. Businesses lost the profit they relied on. Businesses closed.
What happened to workers? As businesses lost money, salaries were lowered and many workers were laid off or fired. Many businesses couldn’t hire the unemployed because they didn’t have the funds to pay salaries.
Unemployment 24% - 50% of Americans were unemployed at the peak of the Great Depression.
The Downward Spiral Less money to spend Businesses lose profit Businesses can’t afford to pay workers Businesses lay off workers
What happened to homeowners? As homeowners lost their jobs, they couldn’t afford to pay their mortgages. Banks foreclosed on loans. Homeowners became homeless.
On an international scale… During WWI and after the war, billions of dollars were loaned to European Allies Allies struggled after WWI and couldn’t repay the money The U.S. increased tariffs to gain some of the money back in trade $ (Hawley-Smoot Tariff) – BAD IDEA! European countries retaliated with tariffs as well.
Bank Closings With so many mortgage foreclosures, banks could not return depositors’ money Banks closed. Depositors lost everything.
How now would you provide for your family? Many moved west in search of work, afterall, farms will need workers as long as people need to eat! EXCEPT…
The Dust Bowl Caused by bad farming practices in the 1920’s (lack of crop rotation and overplowing) Drought and wind caused the land to be unfarmable.
Effects of the Dust Bowl Farm foreclosures Food became scarce. Dust got in everything!
The Great Depression People were desperate. Americans blamed themselves Suicide rates at an all- time high It seemed there was no end in sight.
Is it time for a change? Presidential election of 1932 Time for a change! Herbert Hoover vs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt