Hardship and Suffering During the Depression

I. The Depression Devastates People’s Lives  A. Depression in the Cities 1. Shantytowns-towns of shacks.1. Shantytowns-towns of shacks. 2. Soup kitchens offered free or low cost food.2. Soup kitchens offered free or low cost food. 3. Bread lines were everywhere.3. Bread lines were everywhere.

 B. Dust Bowl 1. Drought.1. Drought. 2. During 1920s farmers had used tractors to break up grasslands.2. During 1920s farmers had used tractors to break up grasslands. 3. Plowing removed the thick protective layer of prairie grass.3. Plowing removed the thick protective layer of prairie grass. 4. Farmers then exhausted the land through overproduction of crops.4. Farmers then exhausted the land through overproduction of crops. 5. Nothing was left to hold the soil down and the wind scattered the dust for hundreds of miles.5. Nothing was left to hold the soil down and the wind scattered the dust for hundreds of miles.

II. Effects on the American Family  A. Men in the streets 1. Men or “hoboes” wandered the country hitching rides on trains searching for work.1. Men or “hoboes” wandered the country hitching rides on trains searching for work. 2. This happened due to no direct relief, cash payments or food provided by the government to the poor.2. This happened due to no direct relief, cash payments or food provided by the government to the poor.

 B. Women Struggle to Survive 1. Women started to work, but faced great resentment because there were men who were unemployed.1. Women started to work, but faced great resentment because there were men who were unemployed.

 C. Children Suffer Hardships 1. By ,600 schools had shut down.1. By ,600 schools had shut down. 2. Children had poor diets.2. Children had poor diets. 3. Children often left home to ease their parents burden.3. Children often left home to ease their parents burden. 4. Known as “Hoover Tourists.”4. Known as “Hoover Tourists.”