Great DepressionWeb Quest

IntroductionThis Web Quest is designed to help you explore the impact of the Great Depression, what it did to the American economy and the lives of the millions.

Read the following facts to reacquaint yourself with the Great Depression, then follow the directions and answer the questions on your own sheet of paper.

October 29, 1929: The Great Crash of the Stock Market4 million Americans were invested heavily in the stock

market—many lost everything.Factories began to close because they had no money

or customers.Thousands of workers lost their jobs or endured pay

cuts.Restaurants and small businesses closed because they

had no customersBy 1932, more than 12 million people were

unemployed (1/4 of the American workforce).

Parts of the Web QuestPart 1: Comparing the Great Depression to the

Great RecessionPart 2: The Depression’s Impact on the America

n FamilyPart 3: Images of Breadlines and HoovervillesPart 4: Interpreting Quotes from the Depression

Part I: 1929 vs. 2007Look at the chart (on the following slide) comparing the Great Depression (1929-1933) and the Great Recession (2008-2009) and answer the questions below.

1) Which economic crisis caused the greatest amount of unemployment? How much higher was the unemployment rate?

2) How many banks fail during the Depression? 3) How might this (bank failure) impact the average American?4) What happened to prices of goods during the Depression?5) How is this different than what happened three years ago?6) How do states respond to the Depression? 7) How do you think this response will impact the average American?

Fully explain.

Great Depression compared to Great Recession

Source: CNNMoney.com Great Depression Great RecessionBank Failures 9,096 (50%) of banks

(Jan 1930-March 1922)57 (.6%) of banks

(Dec 2007-May 2009)Unemployment rate 25% 8.5%

Economic decline -26.5% -3.3%Largest decline in Dow

Jones Industrial average

-89.2% -53.8%

Change in prices -25% +.5%Emergency spending

programs1.5% of GDP for 1 year 2.5% of the GDP for 2

yearsStates’ response Raise taxes, cut

spendingFederal stimulus plan gives funds to states

to lessen impact of tax increases.

Increase in money supply by the Federal

Reserve

17% (1933) 125% (Sep 2008-May 2009)

Part II: Impact on Families

Visit Eyewitness to History’s Web site and read about the impact of the Depression on Families. Answer the below questions.

1) Why did the divorce rate drop during the Depression?2) How much did families’ income drop during the Hoover

Administration?3) As traditional family roles began to change, how did some

men react?4) How did the Depression change the role of black women?5) How were minorities treated by the New Deal? Be

specific!

Part IIIIn cities thousands of jobless men roamed the streets looking for work. It wasn’t unusual for 2,000 or 3,000 applicants to show up for one or two job openings. Breadlines were established to prevent people from starving. And more than a million families lost their houses and took up residence in shantytowns made up of tents, packing crates and hulks of old cars. They were called Hoovervilles, a mocking reference to President Hoover, whom many blamed for the mess the country was in.Spend a few minutes looking at the images on the next few slides. Look at the people. Look at how they live. Then answer the questions.

Breadlines

Hoovervilles

Hooverville

Part III1) How would you describe the breadlines during the 1930s?2) How do you think it would feel to have to wait in that line?3) Look at the breadline on the second set of images. What is

ironic about this image? How do you think the people standing in that picture feel?

4) Why do you think the lines are mostly made up of men?5) How would you describe a hooverville?6) What do the signs behind some of the people in the pictures

tell us about what people are doing/experiencing?7) Look at the mothers in the final set of images. What does

their expression say to you? What do you think they are thinking?

Part IV: Interpreting Quotes

"In other periods of depression, it has always been possible to see some things which were solid and upon which you could base hope, but as I look about, I now see nothing to give ground to hope—nothing of man.”

- Former President Calvin Coolidge, 1932

1) According to Coolidge, what is unique about this economic downturn?

2) What do you think Coolidge means when he says “nothing of man?”

3) Do you think it is significant that a former President is making these observations? Why or why not?

Part IV: Interpreting Quotes

"If, with all the advantages I've had, I can't make a living, I'm just no good, I guess.”

-An Unemployed Texas School Teacher, 1933

4) What does this quote tell us about the type of people that are unemployed during the Depression (that may be different from previous economic recessions)?

5) What does this quote tell us about the psychological toll the Depression is taking on the unemployed?

Part IV: Interpreting Quotes

“I wanted to stay home and fight poverty with my family. But my father told me I had to leave . . . But I didn’t have it in my mind to leave until he told me, ‘Go fed for yourself. I cannot afford to have you around any longer’”

--Clarence Lee, left home when he was 166) What does this quote tell us about the experience of

some teenagers during the Depression?7) Why do you think some families felt they had to kick out

their older children? What does this tell us about the severity of the Depression?

8) Make a prediction: What do you think teenagers who left home did?