Hardship and Suffering Hardship and Suffering During the DepressionDuring the Depression

I. The Depression Devastates I. The Depression Devastates People’s LivesPeople’s Lives

A. Depression in the CitiesA. Depression in the Cities• 1. Shantytowns-towns of shacks.1. Shantytowns-towns of shacks.• 2. Soup kitchens offered free or low 2. Soup kitchens offered free or low

cost food.cost food.• 3. Bread lines were everywhere.3. Bread lines were everywhere.

B. Dust BowlB. Dust Bowl• 1. Drought.1. Drought.• 2. During 1920s farmers had used tractors to 2. During 1920s farmers had used tractors to

break up grasslands.break up grasslands.• 3. Plowing removed the thick protective layer 3. Plowing removed the thick protective layer

of prairie grass.of prairie grass.• 4. Farmers then exhausted the land through 4. Farmers then exhausted the land through

overproduction of crops.overproduction of crops.• 5. Nothing was left to hold the soil down and 5. Nothing was left to hold the soil down and

the wind scattered the dust for hundreds of the wind scattered the dust for hundreds of miles.miles.

II. Effects on the American FamilyII. Effects on the American Family

A. Men in the streetsA. Men in the streets• 1. Men or “hoboes” wandered the 1. Men or “hoboes” wandered the

country hitching rides on trains country hitching rides on trains searching for work.searching for work.

• 2. This happened due to no direct relief, 2. This happened due to no direct relief, cash payments or food provided by the cash payments or food provided by the government to the poor.government to the poor.

B. Women Struggle to SurviveB. Women Struggle to Survive• 1. Women started to work, but faced 1. Women started to work, but faced

great resentment because there were great resentment because there were men who were unemployed.men who were unemployed.

C. Children Suffer HardshipsC. Children Suffer Hardships• 1. By 1933 2,600 schools had shut 1. By 1933 2,600 schools had shut

down.down.• 2. Children had poor diets.2. Children had poor diets.• 3. Children often left home to ease their 3. Children often left home to ease their

parents burden.parents burden.• 4. Known as “Hoover Tourists.”4. Known as “Hoover Tourists.”