1. Causes of the Great Depression
Industry: Some industries were less competitive
Farming: Farmers produced more than they could sell
Easy credit: Many went into debt buying goods on the installment plan
Income: Rich got richer while the poor got poorer

2. A New President Hoover Wins The Election of 1928 Democrats Republicans
Alfred E. Smith Herbert Hoover
Governor of New York Sec. of Commerce
Witty / Outgoing Formal / Reserved
Hoover Wins

3. Risky Business Many Americans practiced speculation & buying on margin
Speculation – very risky
Buying on margin – only paying for part of the stock

4. Stock Market Crashes October 29, 1929 Stock prices dropped
Investors started selling all their stocks
Wall Street lost $30 billion in one month

5. Financial Collapse After the Crash
Many Americans lost EVERYTHING in the crash
After the Crash
Americans panicked & tried to withdraw their money from the bank
The banks ran out of money and closed
People lost their savings

6. After the Crash, Continued
85,000 businesses went bankrupt
1 out of every 4 people were unemployed
People who kept their jobs had cut hours and less wages

7. Hawley – Smoot Tariff Act
Highest tariff in US History
Designed to protect farmers and manufacturers from foreign competition
Backfired – foreign countries couldn’t afford to buy American goods

8. Questions over Section 1
Fill in the following graphic organizer:
First Cause of Great Depression:
Effect:
Second Cause of Great Depression:
Third Cause of Great Depression:
Fourth Cause of Great Depression:

9. Depression in the Cities
Many people were evicted from their homes and lived on the street or in shantytowns
Charities provided food in soup kitchens and bread lines

10. Minorities & the Depression
African Americans and Latinos had the highest unemployment rates
Racial violence increased – there were 24 lynchings in 1933
Many demanded that Latinos be deported to Mexico
Some left voluntarily while others were deported

11. Depression in Rural Areas
Some farmers were able to grow enough food to feed their families
Over 400,000 farms were foreclosed due to unpaid debts
Many turned to tenant farming but were VERY poor
Thousands left their land and went to California

12. The Dust Bowl Farmers overused land
Grasslands became unsuitable for farming
Drought and winds blew the soil away

13. Men & the Depression Men could not provide for their families
2 million men abandoned their families and wandered the country

14. Relief?
The government did not offer direct relief
Some charities gave a weekly payment of $2.39 for a family

15. Women and Children Women sewed clothes and canned food
Managed household budgets
Worked outside the home
Many women were too ashamed to admit their hardship

16. Problems
Poor diets and lack of money for health care led to health problems for many children
Malnutrition
Rickets
Pellagra

17. Social and Psychological Effects
Suicide rates rose by 30%
People developed habits of thriftiness
People gave up on dreams

18. Positive Effects of the Depression
People showed kindness to strangers
Gave food, clothing and a place to stay for the needy
Shared resources and helped each other out

19. Answer the following questions
What were positive effects of the depression?
What were negative effects of the depression?

20. Hoover’s Philosophy
Tried to reassure Americans that the economy was on strong footing.
Felt the gov. should play a limited role in helping to solve the economy’s problems.
Gov. role to encourage & facilitate cooperation.
Direct relief efforts not support them finacially.

21. Hoover takes Cautious Steps
Cautious approach to the depression
Asked employers not to cut wages or layoff workers
Asked labor leaders not to demand higher wages or go on strike.
Created a special organization to help private charities generate contributions for the poor.
None of these steps made much of a difference.

22. Boulder Dam Hoover dam was approved to be built in 1928. Boulder Dam
World’s tallest dam & second largest dam

23. Democrats Win in 1930 Congressional Elections
Political tide turned
Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives & only remained in control by only 1 vote in Senate.
Farmers burned crops rather than sell at a loss.
Declared a “farm holiday” – refused to work in fields.
Calling Shantytowns “Hoovervilles”
Hoover blankets
Hoover Flags

24. Hoover Backs Cooperatives
Attempts to relieve the depression involved negotiating agreements among private entities reflecting his belief in small gov.
Tried to prop up banking system by establishing the National Credit Corporation.
Loaned money to smaller banks

25. Direct Intervention
Appealed to Congress to pass a series of measures to reform banking.
Provide mortgage relief
Funnel more money into business investment
Federal Home Loan Bank Act – lowered mortgage rates & allowed farmers credit
Glass – Steagall Act – separated investment from commercial banking
Reconstruction Finance Corporation – authorized $2 billion for emergency financing for banks

26. Patman Bill Denied
10,000-20,000 WWI veterans went to Washington D.C. – Bonus Army
Patman Bill authorized the gov. to pay a bonus to WWI veterans.
Was supposed to be paid out in 1945
Wright Patman believed money should be paid immediately.
Hoover opposed legislation
Called on Bonus Army to leave - refused

27. Hoover Disbands the Bonus Army
Hoover called for the infantry to gas 1,000 people who were injured.
Most Americans were stunned & outraged at the government’s treatment of veterans.

28. Hoover’s Response
Hoover’s Responses
???

29. Review Questions
Why was Hoover reluctant to help people during the Depression?
What types of action did Hoover take to remedy the effects of the Depression?
What measures did Hoover take and what results did he achieve to help the economy?
Why did Hoover use to force against World War I veterans?
What was the Patman Bill and what happened when it failed in the Senate?
What happened to the Bonus Army?
How did the treatment of the Bonus Army affect President Hoover?