1. The Great Depression and the New Deal
Lesson 2 Americans Suffer

2. Hardships During Depression:
The Great Depression brought hardship, homelessness, and hunger to millions
Loss of Jobs, Wages, Homes
25% Unemployment
African Americans + Latinos affected
Racial Discrimination and competition for jobs.
Hoboes- Unemployed men who wandered the country
Men started to leave their homes
Shantytowns - small shack-like towns
“Hoovervilles”

3. Economic Hardship Shakes the Cities
Analyze Graphs How many millions of people lost their jobs between 1928 and 1933? During which years did unemployment increase the most?

4. Soup Kitchens:
One of the common features of urban areas during the era were soup kitchens and bread lines
Soup kitchens and bread lines offered free or low-cost food for people
Even successful businessmen could be found trying to get free food.
Unemployed men wait in line for food – this particular soup kitchen was sponsored by Al Capone

5. Women and Children in the Depression
New types of work and involvement
Work outside of the home
Earned less money than men
Share groceries with neighbors
Children/Teenagers
Poor nutrition/health problems
“Hoover Tourists”
Ride trains

6. Rural + Farmers Problems before the Great Depression Environment
Falling crop prices
Debts (Equipment, Homes, Land)
Lack of income
Many farmers moved around the country for other work
Loss of the Family Farm
Foreclose their land + houses
Repossess their equipment
Tenant Farming – worked for bigger landowners
Environment
Drought
Many left their farms/homes

7. The Dust Bowl: Over farming lead to poor soil quality (no nutrients)
severe drought gripped the Great Plains in the early 1930s
Dust Bowl – Great plains region that became worthless for farming

8. Analyze Maps Which two states appear to have been hardest hit by erosion? What is unusual about California's location compared to other destinations?

9. Hard Times Hit Most Americans
Families Suffer During the Depression
Men – “Breadwinners” couldn’t provide for their families
Shame + Despair
Birthrates decline
Families help each other out
Poor Minorities Suffer Disproportionately
Minorities suffer
First to be fired, last to be hired
50% Unemployment rate for African Americans
Mexican Americans
Competition for Jobs in California = racial tensions
Repatriation – encourage immigrants to return to their country of origin.
Deportation or pressured from various groups

10. Effect Of Depression: Negatives:
Suicide rate rose more than 30% between
Alcoholism rose sharply in urban areas
Three times as many people were admitted to state mental hospitals as in normal times
Positives:
Many people showed great kindness to strangers
Additionally, many people developed habits of savings & thriftiness

13. Rural America Struggles with Poverty
Combined with the severe drought, how did the planting of wheat lead to the loss of topsoil and the dust storms?