“Why this might be the ‘Worst Hard Time’ in U.S. History?” ** Synthesizing information, considering what you think most relevant … National statistics Information from stations The Grapes of Wrath handout What has been learned about the Great Depression thus far Exit Slip: Write the following question on top of the half- page exit slip to be completed at the end of class.

The Big Questions of the Great Depression Unit (1) What did American culture look like in the 1920’s, and what aspects of American life helped to cause the Great Depression? (2) What caused the Great Depression? (3) What was life like during the Great Depression? (4) What was the response of the “New Deal” to the crisis of the Depression? (5) How does the legacy of the “New Deal” still affect American society today?

Relevant National Statistics Suicide … Mental breakdowns … Alcoholism … Unemployment … Gross Domestic Product … Young people moving away … Migration to California … Farm foreclosures …

Living During the Great Depression Farms lost through foreclosure … Tenant vs. Sharecroppers … Percentage of tenant / sharecropping farmers … Why? Bank foreclosures and bank activities … California migration …

Grapes of Wrath handout Questions to Consider: – [1] What passages / sections stand out to you? Why? – [2] Why are the tenants, owners, and the banks / company depicted as they are in the book? – [3] Why do the owners call the banks or the company “a monster?” – [4] Why are the tractor and driver depicted as they are in the book? – [5] Was this story fair?

Problems with the Farms and Rural and Western Banks , 25% of population were farmers, living on six million farms … - Today, 2% of population or 6 million people … - Farm Security Administration (1935) … - Production discouraged … - Economic reality …

Stations Questions to Consider: – [1] How might this content help me answer, “Why this might be the ‘Worst Hard Time’ in U.S. History?” – [2] Pay attention to the photographs: what details do you see? What do these photos tell about life during the era? – [3] What questions do I have, and what would I like to learn more about from this era?

Station One “Migrant Mother”

Station Two “Lunch atop a Skyscraper”

Station Three “Dust Bowl Images”

Station Four “Letters to the President”

Living During the Great Depression Effects upon families … – (men, women, children) School closures … Rail car accidents …

Family Life in the Great Depression Fertility Rates (per 100,000 women aged 15-44) : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 94.3

Family Life in the Great Depression Average divorce rate, (per 1,000 people) : : : : : 2.5

“Why this might be the ‘Worst Hard Time’ in U.S. History?” ** Synthesizing information, considering what you think most relevant … National statistics Information from stations The Grapes of Wrath handout What has been learned about the Great Depression thus far Exit Slip: Write the following question on top of the half- page exit slip to be completed at the end of class.

Hoover Responds to the Great Depression Probably one of the most generous / resourceful men in history … Conventional economic thought … Hoover Dam Impact … Federal Farm Board … Reconstruction Finance Corporation … Emergency Relief Act … Bonus Army …