The Great Depression and The New Deal

1
The Great Depression and The New Deal
2
Boom to BustThe Farmers Plight

• Farms began to fail in the 1920s.
• Banks went out of business because the farmers
  could not pay their debts.
• Other industries suffered as well.

3
The Stock Market Crash of 1929

• Many people borrowed money to buy stocks.
• On Tuesday, October 24, 1929, many investors sold
  their stocks at one time.
• Stock prices dropped sharply, making the stocks
  almost worthless.
• Many people were left with debts they couldnt
  pay.

4
Crash of 29, continued

• Banks ran out of money, so people lost their
  savings.
• The banks closed.
• Businesses that had relied on the banks also
  closed down.
• As a result, almost ¼ of the countrys workers
  lost their jobs.
• This marked the beginning of

5
The Great Depression

• The Great Depression lasted from 1929 until the
  beginning of WWII.
• It was the longest and worst depression in our
  nations history.
• Texas was not as badly affected at first, because
  we were already a poor state, many people did not
  invest in stocks, and many Texans were farmers,
  not industry workers.
• Eventually, the Depression spread worldwide,
  affecting the Texas cotton market.
• Our economy suffered greatly as a result.

6
Cities Try To Help Texans

• The state treasury was empty, so Texas cities
  pitched in to help.
• They helped create city jobs for people who were
  unemployed.
• They sponsored gardening projects to help people
  grow food.
• This helped, but there were fewer opportunities
  than people.

7
The Dust Bowl

• Occurred during 1925-1930
• More to come on Friday

8
The New Deal

• Franklin Roosevelt was elected President in 1932
  based on his promise of a New Deal for American
  citizens.
• http//www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_09_i
  mg0610.jpg
• His administration created new programs to
  stimulate the economy.
• They reformed the banking system, guaranteeing
  depositors money with government backing.

9
New Deal Texans

• President Roosevelts VP was a Texan named John
  Nance Cactus Jack Garner.
• http//bushlibrary.tamu.edu/image.php?id562filen
  amegarner_1868.jpg
• Another Texan, Jesse Jones, helped create the
  FDIC, which safeguards money in U.S. banks
  against loss such as those that occur during
  depressions.

10
Texas New Deal Programs

• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the
  Public Works Administration (PWA), put Texans to
  work building or improving public buildings, post
  offices, hospitals, parks, etc.
• Jobs were also created for writers and artists.
• More than 600,000 Texans worked for these
  agencies during the Depression.

11
Lyndon Johnson

• Another major figure in the New Deal was future
  president and Texan Lyndon Johnson.
• File37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg - Wikipedia, the
  free encyclopedia
• He was director of the National Youth
  Administration, employing around 18,000 Texas
  youths.

12
Ma Ferguson

• Miriam Ma Ferguson, wife of impeached Governor
  Farmer Jim Ferguson, had been elected Texas
  Governor in 1924 because she opposed the Ku Klux
  Klan.
• FileMiriam A. Ferguson.jpg - Wikipedia, the free
  encyclopedia
• http//shannynmoore.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/kk
  k.gif
• She was re-elected in 1932, because she promised
  to cut taxes and state spending.
• She did cut spending, but also increased taxes,
  creating the oil tax.
• This revenue made a lot of money for Texas.

13
Era of Lawlessness

• The Great Depression sparked a major increase in
  crime.
• Famous criminals such as George Machine Gun
  Kelly, and Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, aka
  Bonnie and Clyde, came to prominence during
  this era.
• The Texas Rangers gained fame for tracking down
  the killers.

14
The Texas Centennial

• 1936 marked the 100th anniversary of Texas
  Independence from Mexico.
• Dallas was chosen as the site of the celebration.
  Fair Park, where the State Fair is held annually,
  was the result.