Impact of Great Depression on Americans

A large number of banks and businesses failed: – Banks do not hold large amounts of cash. – Banks ran out of money when too many people wanted to withdraw their savings

¼ of workers were out of jobs: – Unemployment: the number of workers without jobs – People could not afford their house payments or apartment rent

Large numbers of people were hungry and homeless: – Some people built shelters out of tents, flattened tin cans, and cardboard boxes – Groups of these shelters were called shantytowns – Long lines were found at community soup kitchens

Farmers’ incomes fell to low levels: – Crop prices were so low that some farmers found it cheaper to burn grain than coal – Farmers in the Midwest had difficulties with a massive drought known as the dust bowl

Exit Ticket What do you think had the biggest impact for Americans during the Great Depression? Why? – 5 sentences