1. American History Chapter 15: Crash and Depression
III. Surviving the Great Depression

2. Objectives
Read about ways Americans pulled together to survive the Great Depression.
See the signs of change Americans began to notice in the early 1930s.

3. Bell Ringer
Recall a time when friends, neighbors, or strangers worked together to solve a problem or helped one another through an unpleasant situation.

4. A) Americans Pull Together
Quote – 520
Farmers Stick Together: farmers would loose their land
8) Penny auctions: farmers would purposely bid low at foreclosure auctions and give it back to original farmer
Young People Ride the Rail: many young people became hobos on the train – looking for anything – family could not feed them
Seeking Political Solutions: no riots or political upheaval as in Europe – communist party did grow though
Depression Humor: fight despair - Hoovervilles – Hoover blankets (newspapers) – empty pockets were Hoover flags
Babe Ruth – paid more than President – “had a better year”

5. B) Signs of Change Prohibition is repealed – 15 years later
21st Amendment: repealed the 18th amendment allowing alcoholic beverages
The Empire State Building – employed up to 4,000 people – 41 million dollars – half price – 1931 – dollar to go to top
End of an Era – 1920’s fading away – Al Capone in jail – Ruth retired – Henry Ford hated by labor – Charles Lindbergh’s son kidnapped and murdered

6. Review
In what ways did Americans pull together to survive the Great Depression?
What signs of change did Americans begin to notice in the early 1930’s?