Life During the Depression

Hard Times in America Women go to work – Large numbers of women entered the workforce out of desperation Tension towards working women Women earned less than men – New doors opened for women in public life First women ever to serve in the President’s Cabinet – Mrs. Roosevelt Many Americans sought relief by from the pain of the Great Depression by writing her letters Campaigned vigorously for women and families in need

The Dust Bowl – Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico – Thousands of farmers went bankrupt and had to give up their farms. 400,000 farmers migrated to California and became migrant workers

The Plight of Minorities African Americans – More than half of the African American population were unemployed in the south Their jobs were often taken and given to white people – Social and political gains NAACP worked to lessen discrimination in the labor movement – Political life FDR appointed a number of African Americans to federal posts

Native Americans – Indian New Deal Would help restore Native American culture and heritage Halted the sale of reservation land Civilian Conservation Corps put 77,000 Native Americans to work New reservation schools Indian Reorganization Act – Restored traditional tribal government a – Enlarge some reservations

Latinos – million people of Latino or Hispanic descent lived in the United States Worked as small farmers, laborers, migrant workers Great Depression deepened resentment against Mexican Americans and many lost their jobs – Government The government encourage Mexican immigrant to return to Mexico Keep from getting relief of offered benefits far below those given to whites

Hard times helped radical political groups gain ground in the United States during the Great Depression Radical political movements – Socialists and Communists vied the Great Depression as the death of a failed system and proposed dramatic changes – As fascism grew in Europe it gained some attention in America and placed blame on Jews, Communists, and liberals for the country’s troubles

Entertainment and the Arts Radio and Movies – Radio continued to grow in popularity – Weekly 85 million people went to the movie theater to escape their troubles Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Wizard of OZ Images of the times – Many artists and painters portrayed the grim realities of the times