Americans Face Hard Times

1. Americans Face Hard Times Mr. Brink 12.2 Honors United States History

2. A Bread Line

3. Bank Failures

5. Farm Foreclosures • In 1933: 364,000 farms went bankrupt and were foreclosed.

6. Unemployment

7. PRODUCTIVITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT • in 1920's U.S. Eco. was based on the productivity – purchasing power - employment cycle • for many goods to be produced , purchasing demand had to be there: this resulted in high employment and a healthy economy • b/n 1924-27, U.S. productive capacity doubled but it was b/c of technological innovation  electricity and mechanical advances made for better production, but no new jobs were added to the economy • so more consumer goods were available, but there weren't nec. more people to buy them (OVERPRODUCTION)

9. President Herbert Hoover • Relied on “rugged individualism” and cooperation rather than government interference.

10. Hoovervilles

11. Hoboes • Migrant workers roam the country looking for a job or a handout where they can find it. • Hobo Signs • http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm

12. Vagrancy and Chain Gangs “Move on . . . You are not welcome here!”

13. The Dust Bowl • Drought hits the Plains in 1931. • Poor farming practices makes the topsoil vulnerable.

14. A “Farm” in the Dust Bowl

15. Cars Trying to Escape a Dust Storm

16. Okies to California To escape the Dust Bowl, many “Okies” take Route 66 (The Mother Road) west to find work in California fruit orchards.

17. John Steinbeck

18. WOODY GUTHRIE