Depression

Bell Ringer 3/1/06

“ We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting.” (W.E.B DuBois)

What is this quote referring to?

Why did this quote prove to be true?

What was life like during ?

Post War America

1920’s Culture

The flapper Short hair for women Dancing & Music Speakeasies Silent movies

“The Jazz Age was wickedand monstrous and silly.

Unfortunately, I had a good time.” Heywood Broun

How did technology impact society?

15 million cars were sold 80% were bought on credit A Model T Ford cost $290 in 1920 20% of U.S. homes had electricity by

the end of the decade 10 million families owned radios by

1929 Shifting of America from a rural country

to an urban country

Leisure Time???

Shorter work week and vacation time – more free time to enjoy:

• Movies

• Reading

• Sports

• Music

Too much of a good thing????

Mass consumption, changing values, new technologies – are they always good???– Many said NO – Harlem Renaissance benefited and

reacted against it

Harlem Renaissance /Jazz Age

African American writers in NYC Well-educated Middle class group

– Alienated from society Spoke against the bigotry on the time

and pride in African American culture W.E.B DuBois, Langston Hughes, Zora

Neale Hurston, Alain Locke, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith

THE FLAPPERby Dorothy Parker

The Playful flapper here we

see,The fairest of the fair.

She's not what Grandma used to be, --

You might say, au contraire.Her girlish ways may make a

stir,Her manners cause a scene,But there is no more harm in

herThan in a submarine.

Women in the 20s……. By 1929, made up 22% of the workforce 90% of married women did not work Work available to women were low

paying and of lower status Voted in 1920 election – not very many

participated Majority were not flappers, but were

helped by the technology Family size smaller, divorce laws still

favored men

Immigrants in the 20s ……

KKKQuotas

Nativism

Struggle of OLD vs. NEW

Prohibition Minorities Cultural Values Women Scopes Trial

– Modernization of society– Religion not as important

Who’s Who

Hand in: – #1 Project – #2 Sources– #3 Rubric with your name on it!!!!

Harding vs. Coolidge

Harding (1920 – 1923) Former Newspaper

Publisher and not experienced in politics

Scandals – theft of Veteran supplies, fraud, Teapot Dome Scandal (bribery and oil reserves)

Coolidge (1923 – 1928) Laissez-faire

economic policy and committed to business interests

Small recession – post war decline

1923 – 1929 business booming

“Coolidge Prosperity”

Coolidge Prosperity???????????

Large Business prosper – Upper Class prospers

Middle Class, Laborers, Farmers, Native Americans, and African Americans did not prosper

Election of 1928 Hoover (Rep.) vs. Alfred Smith (Dem.) Hoover – secretary of commerce

- Self Made Millionaire

- Humanitarian

- Leader in war effort and post war reconstruction

Hoover won 84% of the electoral vote

What was the Great Depression?

The worst economic crisis of the century

Over 13 million people unemployed “Dust bowl” as a result of drought Farmers lost crops Many lost their homes

Roaring 20s End Great Depression Begins

What caused the Great Depression?

Stock market crash of 1929 Unequal distribution of

wealth Excessive Buying on Credit Weak Business Structure Weak Banking Structure Inadequate Government

Policies Weak International economy

Stock Market Crash Many stocks purchased on speculation

– Panic sets in as they are forced to produce the money for the loans

Stock prices fell– Panic selling

Huge sums of money lost

Thursday, October 24, 1929Stock values fell $14 billion

Unequal Distribution of Wealth

No middle class Supply not equal to demand Credit cards created false demand

Excessive Buying on Credit

Creates a false demand Under consumption People unable to make installment

payments, therefore stop buying

Weak Business Structure

Business consolidation – makes a few large companies for each industry

Profits and control were in the hands of a few – fragile system

Weak Banking Structure

No FDIC – No government regulation

People pull money out – Panic

Banks close with people’s money

Inadequate Government Policies

No government regulation of stock market

Tax policies contributed to unequal distribution of wealth

Antitrust laws were not enforced Federal Reserve Board made poor

decisions

Weak International Economy

WWI and the Stock Market crash effected the world

No U.S. foreign investment – no money to pay America back

Foreign countries had no money to buy American goods

What was life like in the 1930’s?

Hooverisms Hoover Hog – armadillos that were baked in

the desert Hoover Flag – empty pocket turned out Hoover Blanket – Newspaper slept under Hoover Car – Abandoned Cars Hoover Bag – suitcase with holes Hoover Shoes – shoes with holes in soles Hoovervilles – shack towns of boxes and

crates.

“Hooverism” Hoover’s response to the Great

Depression: – Restore confidence in economy– Promoted helping businesses to help

economy– Reconstruction Finance Corporation– Federal Work Projects to create jobs– Halted war repayment by Europe– Asked businesses to not lower wages or

prices

Failure of “Hooverism”

No direct relief – damaged image Economy was continuing to spiral and

Hoover continued to say things were improving

“Bonus Army” - march on Washington, disbanded by army

Dustbowls

A traveler noticed a nice new hat by the side of the road, and he stopped to pick it up. Under the hat was a man, buried up to his neck in the dust! As he dug the poor fellow out, the traveler asked if he wanted a ride into town. "No, I'll get there myself," the man replied, "I'm on a horse."

(Excerpt from THE DUST BOWL by Tricia Andryszewski, p. 33.)

FDR’s New Deal

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Elected in 1932 with 89% of the electoral vote

Government experience: – NYS Legislature – Asst. Secretary of the Navy – Governor of NYS

3 R’s of the New Deal

RELIEF of those who were suffering

RECOVERY for the economy

REFORM to avoid future depressions

New Deal Programs Outcomes

Banking Emergency Act (FDIC) – restored confidence, soon more deposits than withdrawls

Federal Emergency Relief Admin. (FERA) – Helped to revitalize relief organizations and encourage work

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – Taught men and women to be independent, increased self confidence and self esteem

New Deal Programs Outcomes

Public Work Administration PWA – benefited America and American workers

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – Declared unconstitutional, did not raise prices as hoped – just made people upset

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - cheap electric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities to the entire Tennessee River valley.

New Deal Programs Outcomes

Works Progress Admin. (WPA) – decreased unemployment

Social Security Act (SSA) - it did help millions of Americans feel more secure.

National Recovery Admin. (NRA) – organized the relief effort, centralized government efforts

Rural Electrification Admin. (REA) – gave several small farmers electricity

Wagner Act

Also known as the National Labor Relations Act (1935)

Guaranteed labor unions the right to form unions and to practice collective bargaining

Progressive Legislation??????

So What?

Father Coughlin

Francis Townsend

Upton Sinclair

“Production for Use” – state ownership of land and factories

Government Pension Plan for Elderly – no SSA

Central Bank, Silver backing of money, increase circulation

Table of Contents#1 Outline/Concepts #16 Hoover vs. FDR #2 Twenties Talk #17 Share our Wealth#3 Sports Stars #18 FDR’s New Deal #4 Who’s Who #19 You and the New Deal#5 Roaring 20s Culture #20 Be a New Deal Worker #6 The Automobile #21 No New Deal #7 The New Woman #22 The S.C. and New Deal#8 Roaring 20s Packet#23 FDR and the S.C. #9 Great Migration #10 Immigration #11 Urban-Rural Change #12 Roaring 20s Politics #13 What caused the Great Depression?#14 Hooverisms#15 Images of the Great Depression

The New Deal and the Supreme Court

NRA – Schechter Poultry Corp v. United States (1935)– NRA codes were too much like laws– Executive was legislating – Declared unconstitutional

AAA – declared unconstitutional– Congress passed another similar law to

circumvent the Supreme Court.

The New Deal and the Supreme Court

Court-Packing – Conservative Court did not follow FDR’s

plan– Democratic President and a Republican

Court – Proposed a plan to increase the number of

justices

Third Term Controversy Elected:

– 1932 – 1936 – 1940 – 1944

Republicans accused him of breaking the unwritten constitution

After death, 22nd Amendment was proposed to limit to two terms

1951 – 22nd Amendment ratified

The Results Bank Failure

Unemployment

Loss of homes “Hoovervilles”

Here were all these people living in old rusted-out car bodies. ... One family ... [was] living in a piano box. This wasn't just a little section, this was maybe 10 miles wide and 10 miles long. People living in whatever theycould junk together. ..."

Depression

Did everyone suffer during the depression?

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”

“Our greatest primary task is to put people to work”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

A Long Way From Chicago By Richard Peck