Great Depression and New Deal

1. Great Depression and New Deal

2. Stock Market Crash • In October 1929, panic selling caused the United States stock market to crash. • The crash led to a worldwide economic crisis called the Great Depression. • People did not see the crash coming – kept investing their money with confidence of continued prosperity.

3. Stock Market Crash • By September 3, 1929 the Dow Jones Industrial Average – or average stock prices of major industries – reached an all time high. • DJIA was 381. • Prices for many stocks began soaring far above their actual value.

4. Stock Market Crash • After the peak in September, prices began falling slowly. • Investors became nervous but overall buying on margin continued. • On Wednesday, October 23rd DJIA had dropped 21 points.

5. Stock Market Crash • The next morning, investors began to sell to avoid losing money and stock prices fell tremendously – known as Black Thursday. • Example: Investors who bought stocks of General Electric at $400 sold it at $280. • President Hoover promised the American people that economy was still strong.

6. Stock Market Crash • To stop the panic, a group of bankers pooled their money together to buy stock. • This stabilized prices for only a few days. • On Monday, prices were still falling. Investors raced to get their money out of the declining stock market.

7. Stock Market Crash • The next day, Tuesday, October 29th a record 16.4 million shares were sold. • The normal day consisted of 4 to 8 million shares sold. • This day is known as Black Tuesday, or when the stock market finally crashed.

9. Stock Market Crash • The crash continued through November as the DJIA kept falling. • Overall losses totaled $30 billion. • The crash was part of the American business cycle, or when the economy grows and then contracts.

10. Stock Market Crash • Initially, the crash only affected those who invested heavily. • Within a short time, the ripple effect of the crash was felt throughout the entire economy. • Millions of people who had never even owned stocks became effected.

11. Stock Market Crash • Banks lost money from businesses unable to repay loans. • Consumers could not pay banks from their installment plans. • Bank runs put some banks out of business – customers rushed in to withdraw all of their money – but many banks did not have it.

12. Stock Market Crash • Businesses had to cut production because they could not afford loans from banks. • The cut back in production caused businesses to cut expenses, or in other words, fire employees. • As unemployment grew, less consumers were buying, causing business to cut back even more.

13. Stock Market Crash • These economic factors combined to create what is known as the Great Depression. • A severe economic downturn that lasts for an extended amount of time. • A severe depression like the Great Depression causes job loss and home loss.

14. Stock Market Crash • Henry Ford shut down his Detroit automobile factories putting 75,000 people out of work. • Farms who had been suffering any way during the business boom of the 1920s were suffering even more. • By 1932, 12 million people were unemployed – about 25% of the population – others worked part-time or for lower wages.

15. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • What was the immediate cause of the stock market crash in 1929? • Explain how the crash ushered in the Great Depression.

16. Depression Sets In • The Great Depression effected the whole world, not just United States. • American business invested in Germany – Germany owed France and Britain for war – France and Britain owed US for war. • American business stopped investing in Germany – European economy also suffers.

17. Depression Sets In • Federal tax policies favored the rich which led to an uneven distribution of income. • Industry produced more goods than consumers wanted or needed. • By the early 1930s, wage cuts and growing unemployment had brought widespread suffering across the United States.

18. Depression Sets In • People could not understand why the banks did not have their money that they deposited. • Homeless people sometimes built shanty towns with shacks of tar paper, cardboard or scrap material. • These shelters were known as “Hoovervilles” to mock the President whom they blamed.

22. Depression Sets In • Farmers who were suffering from low crop prices began destroying crops to lower supply. • The nation was shocked as starving families saw pictures of farmers dumping milk. • Midwest suffered through the Dust Bowl – an environmental crisis - partly farmers fault.

23. Depression Sets In • When farming prices were low, farmers extended their farm land to grow more crops. • They cut down prairie grass that served as a natural protection against wind. • Drought mixed with strong winds kicked up huge dust storms that covered everything.

29. Depression Sets In • Drought and dust storms dominated the area – many farmers migrated to California • Depression was taking a toll on people’s health. • Poor diets, inadequate medical care – children had it the worst.

30. Depression Sets In • Living conditions declined as families and neighbors moved in together. • Working women were accused of taking jobs from embarrassed men. • Some employers like Henry Ford would not hire married women if husbands had a job.

31. Depression Sets In • Minorities were also affected – 56% of African-Americans were unemployed by 1932. • Discrimination increased for African-Americans. • Some employers would not hire blacks, and they were ineligible for some government relief programs – same for Hispanics and Asian-Americans

32. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • Explain how the Great Depression affected economies in Europe. • Explain the conditions that led to the Dust Bowl. • Draw a Hooverville.

33. Americans Survive Depression • Americans survived the Great Depression with determination and even humor. • They helped one another, looked for solutions, and waited for the hard times to pass. • Farmers also worked together to minimize the impact of the Depression.

34. Americans Survive Depression • When farmers were unable to pay the mortgage of their farms, banks foreclosed on their properties. • Foreclosed properties were sold at auctions. • Local farmers secretly agreed to keep prices at auctions low so that original owners could buy them back – penny auctions.

35. Americans Survive Depression • In the early 1930s nearly 250,000 teenagers were living on the road and riding the railroads – seeking opportunity. • However, there was little violence, no rioting, and no calls for revolution. • Jokes and cartoons helped people through their troubles – humor helped fight despair.

36. Americans Survive Depression • The term “Hooverville” started a trend. • People who slept outside on benches used old newspaper – or “Hoover Blankets” to stay warm. • Empty pockets turned inside out were called “Hoover Flags”.

37. Americans Survive Depression • People searched for signs of positive change to stay optimistic. • One change was the Twenty-first Amendment which repealed Prohibition. • Government did it to curb gangsters – but public viewed it as an end to a social experiment.

38. Americans Survive Depression • For many a dramatic symbol of hope was the Empire State Building. • It was built in a race for the world’s tallest skyscraper. • 4,000 workers built it, and it dominated the New York skyline – viewed as an accomplishment.

42. YOUR TURN TO WRITE • How were penny auctions an example of Americans sticking together and helping each other survive the Depression? • Imagine you are an out of work American during the Depression. Write a letter to a friend in England discussing your situation, and your feelings and emotions.

43. Hoover and Bonus Army • President Hoover faced another crisis of his own – the 1932 election. • Hoover believed that voluntary action by business would cure Depression – not government action. • Hoover did not want to extend government and enforce government bailouts.

44. Hoover and Bonus Army • Quote from Hoover during 1932 election: • “…we should find solutions for many of our complex problems, and not by the extension of government into our economic and social life.” With this quote Hoover is arguing against government action to use tax payer money to get the country out of depression.

45. Hoover and Bonus Army • Many people wanted Hoover to do more – but often people blamed themselves for their plight. • Hoover did become more flexible as hardships continued. • To create jobs, government spent more on public buildings, roads, parks and dams - Hoover Dam began in 1930.

48. Hoover and Bonus Army • Hawley-Smoot Tariff passed in 1930 – the highest import tax in history • Idea was to protect American business and support American industry • Tariff backfired – European countries raised their own tariffs, slowing international trade

49. Hoover and Bonus Army • Hoover sets up Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) in 1932. • Gave government credit to banks so that they can extend loans. • Public viewed it as only helping bankers while ordinary people starved.

50. Hoover and Bonus Army • Hoover hits a low point in 1932 with WWI veterans march on Washington. • Veterans promised a $1,000 pension bonus in 1945. • Veterans went to Washington demanding the payment immediately.