Chapter 25, Section 3 “Americans Face Hard Times”

Chapter 25, Section 3“Americans Face Hard Times”

Dust Bowl(19:00-29:30) • Massive dust storms that swept through the Great Plains caused by severe droughts in the early 1930s • The top soil literally blew away which destroyed farms • Farmers already struggling with low crop prices often lost their farms to the banks

Efforts to Help Dust Bowl Farmers • New Deal programs tried to help them by offering them low-interest loans (FCA) and by stabilizing crop prices (AAA) • Efforts to prevent future Dust Bowls by growing grass and planting trees near fields to prevent wind erosion

“Okies” and “Arkies” Head West • 2.5 million people left the Great Plains after they lost their farms • Most headed west looking for work, particularly in California • They struggled when they got there as there were too many looking for work and too few jobs

Great Depression Hit Some Groups Harder Than Others • Children – many dropped out of school to work to help support their families, and many left home to fend for themselves • Hispanics – had a harder time getting jobs and many were deported back to Mexico • African Americans – faced discrimination and many lost jobs to whites

Mary McLeod Bethune • Started a school for African American girls in Daytona Beach, Florida (a school that started with 6 girls, but eventually grew to become Bethune-Cookman University) • She was appointed Director of the Division of Negro Affairs (with-in the National Youth Admin.) which trained young African Americans for jobs • This made her the first African-American female federal agency head

The “Black Cabinet” • A group of African American leaders (such as Mary McLeod Bethune) who were appointed to positions within the FDR’s administration • They advised the president on issues relating to race • Why was FDR unwilling to sign a bill outlawing lynching? Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune

John Steinbeck • Famous author who described life in the Great Depression in many of his novels • “Grapes of Wrath” described the struggles of Dust Bowl farmers who moved to California looking for work

WoodieGuthrie • Oklahoma-born folk singer who crossed the country singing his songs about loss and struggle • “Dust Bowl Blues” From 1976 movie “Bound for Glory” about Woody Guthrie

Entertainment in the Depression Era • Swing Music – fast-paced rhythms that young people could dance to • Radio – shows like Little Orphan Annie and the Lone Ranger entertained • Movies – comedies, dramas, and musicals entertained and were very inexpensive to see • Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Follow the Fleet”

Full Recovery from the Depression • After the U.S. enters WWII • When govt. begins buying massive amounts of war supplies the problem of unemployment finally subsides Pearl Harbor attacked by Japan

Effects of the Great Depression and the New Deal • Provided hope and relief to many Americans during the depression • Expanded the role of the federal govt. • Created major programs such as Social Security, FDIC, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which monitors the stock exchange • Created belief that the federal govt. is responsible for people’s well-being

Chapter 25, Section 3 “Americans Face Hard Times”