Impact of Depression on US

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Impact of Depression on US

• Hardship and suffering was widespread
• In and out of most cities, shantytowns were
  created
• Soup kitchens and breadines were created in
  cities or charitable groups
• Job competition increases hostilities amongst
  people
• Farmers had slight advantage, in that they were
  already used to hard times and they could grow
  own food

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THE DUST BOWL

• Farmers in the Great Plains faced the the effects
  of the Dust Bowl
• Overproduction, drought, and wind storms cause
  tons of topsoil blow away.
• KS, OK, and TX are hardest hit, many pack up and
  head west on Route 66 (they are nicknamed
  Okies)

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• Some family men cannot stand to see their
  familys suffering so they leave their families
• No large scale federal direct relief programs
  exist, some cities create welfare type programs
• Many women starved themselves in order to make
  sure their kids had food.
• Many develop health problems due to poor diets,
  lack of proper medical care
• Depression will have adverse psychological
  effects on entire generation of Americans
• Suicides go up, all are forced to make sacrifices
  (college, doctors/dentists, families)
• Achieving financial security will become primary
  focus for many

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22.3 Hoover Struggles with the Depression

• Hoovers belief in the rugged individual leads
  his team to react slowly to crisis
• Saw it as a temporary and necessary downswing
• Opposed direct relief, felt intervention by
  federal government would destroy free enterprise
• Resentment towards Hoover and Republicans grows
  daily
• 1930 mid-term elections, Democrats take control
  of House

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Attempts at Helping

• Programs started by Hoover
• Public Works Projects (Hoover Dam)
• Federal Farm Board-control prices
• Glass Steagall Banking Act (FDIC)-protects banks
• Federal Home Loan Bank Act-keep people in homes
• Reconstruction Finance Corporation (trickle-down
  economics)

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Hoover and Bonus Army

• Group of WWI vets led by Waters march to DC to
  get 1,000 bonus
• Hoover allowed them to create Hooverville while
  issue was debated
• Senate and Hoover deny money and say go home
• About 2,000-5,000 stayed
• Police shot 2 vets
• Army tear gassed families, 2 babies die
• Hoovers reluctance to act and gassing of Bonus
  Army costs him any chance of re-election

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The 1932 Election

• Hoover was blamed for problems that plagued US
• Republicans throw their support at him in 32,
  Hoover argued natural acts will fix economy and
  Democrats plan would ruin free enterprise
• Democrats nominate Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR
  for the next 4 chapters) Governor from NY
• FDR was career politician, very well spoken and
  confident
• Promised a New Deal for Americans, however
  provided few details during the campaign

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1932 Election, continued

• Hoover claimed FDR had no real plan to help
  economy and his promises seem to shift from day
  to day
• Changes in our Latin American policies and
  aggressive dictators around the world caused both
  to keep a cautious eye on world affairs
• The results were FDR winning with about 59 of
  the popular votes and a 472-59 margin in the
  electoral college.
• In the House Democrats control 313-117-5
• In the Senate Democrats control 60-35-1

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1932 Election Results