1. surviving the great depression
Americans pulled together
At farm auctions, bidders kept bids low and often returned the farms to the original owners
less effected families offered help from their homes, displaying this “kind hearted woman” symbol:

2. Political solutions Depression humor No calls for radical change BUT
Some wanted a government that promised more even distribution of wealth
Give more to those who NEED it
Depression humor
Many Americans relied on humor to “laugh through the pain”
Jokes & political cartoons
“Hoovervilles”, “Hoover shoes”, etc.
Babe Ruth was criticized for requesting $80,000 salary, which was higher than President Hoover’s. He replied, “I had a better year than he did.”
Communist party called for a revolution; Socialist (less extreme) called for more gradual social/economic change

4. Changes in the 1930s Prohibition ended with the 21st Amendment
Some upset, but most agreed it was a “failed social experiment”
Empire State Building was created (developed by John J. Raskob)
Created jobs
Became the tallest building in the world (1,250 ft, 102 stories)
Symbol of hope & accomplishment

5. Lasting effects on the “Depression generation”
End of “Roaring Twenties” era
1931 – Al Capone put in jail (tax evasion)
1932 – Lindbergh’s infant son kidnapped & murdered
1933 – Calvin Coolidge died
1935 – Babe Ruth retired
Lasting effects on the “Depression generation”
Saved money (“penny pinching”)
Avoided wasting anything
Avoided buying on credit
Distrust of banks (put $ in mattresses)

6. The election of 1932 Hoover’s initial response to the Great Depression
Blamed it on “world-wide economic conditions beyond our control”
Strategy = helping businesses
Helping them find ways to make profit
Encouraging them to keep paying good wages
Didn’t always work – many businesses began cutting pay
Further action
Public works programs: Government-funded projects to create jobs
parks, roads, Hoover Dam
Hawley-Smoot tariff (1930) – high tax on imports to encourage American business

7. Hoover didn’t want to extend direct federal relief
Thought it would hurt people’s pride, make government too big, and spend too much money
Wanted state & local government to handle relief effort, but they didn’t have enough money

8. Hoover’s challenger = Franklin Delano Roosevelt
NY Senate, NY Governor
Promised a “New Deal” for America
Had established unemployment & relief programs in NY
Different approaches to government role in Great Depression
Hoover: The federal government should not try to fix all of people’s problems; we should not extend the federal government; private relief efforts and support of big business will solve problem
FDR: The Great Depression requires federal intervention; the government should step in more to solve large-scale problems like this

9. Outcome Landslide victory for FDR
Some loved his policies, some just wanted ANYBODY but Hoover
Marked a change in the way people viewed government and its responsibilities
More willing to accept government intervention because it was a time of crisis