Unemployment in the Chicago of the Thirties By: Jenna Quasmieh Katie Rose & Kellie Tonelli Period 5

Rates of Unemployment in the 1930s ● Nearly a half a million people were unemployed ● Largest employers were construction and maintenance businesses ● Factory workers were among the most out of a job ● Unions struggled with racial and ethnic diversity ● Chicago's workforce segregated African Americans

Inequalities Among the Unemployed ● Discrimination only permitted African Americans to work small jobs ● Usually worked domestic, low-paying, unskilled jobs reserved for poor/immigrant population ● Whites usually held more professional and skilled jobs ● Jobs for blacks always were highly unstable, couldn’t guarantee positions, decided to bear discrimination b/c received better wages than would in South ● Whites given priority over blacks for employment, preference of race became more important than qualifications

The Effects of Unemployment on Society: Behavior & Moral ● People began to feel anxiety, stress & boredom ● More crimes, homicides, & suicides ● Some doubted their self-worth & decision making skills ● Family life struggles Life in the 30s ● Many people joined together to organize strikes & protests ● Life in rural areas was hard & people felt helpless, especially farmers who depended on selling their crops for an income ● Thousands ended up becoming homeless, living in unsanitary conditions on the streets, & eating out of garbages

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