The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

After World War I…After World War I…

When World War I ended in 1918, a When World War I ended in 1918, a rebellion against the social and moral rebellion against the social and moral reforms happened in the U.S.reforms happened in the U.S.

The 1920s was a decade of huge The 1920s was a decade of huge social changessocial changes

It was a struggle between “old” and It was a struggle between “old” and “new” America“new” America– A more modern, urban culture battled A more modern, urban culture battled

against the old rural, traditional cultureagainst the old rural, traditional culture

The Roaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties

The popular image of the 1920s is of The popular image of the 1920s is of prosperity, bootleggers and gangsters, prosperity, bootleggers and gangsters, jazz, and dancersjazz, and dancers

However, the 20s were also a period of However, the 20s were also a period of deep social unrestdeep social unrest

Immigrants (Italians, Irish, etc.) were Immigrants (Italians, Irish, etc.) were discriminated againstdiscriminated against

Racial tensions ran high between blacks Racial tensions ran high between blacks and whitesand whites

Religious tensions increased with the Religious tensions increased with the debate over evolutiondebate over evolution

Georgia in the 1920sGeorgia in the 1920s For many Georgians, the 1920s was not a time for For many Georgians, the 1920s was not a time for

abundanceabundance The boll weevil, a type of beetle, was destroying The boll weevil, a type of beetle, was destroying

the cotton cropthe cotton crop It destroyed 1000s of acres of Georgia’s cotton It destroyed 1000s of acres of Georgia’s cotton

fieldsfields Drought also hit in 1924, which ruined many of Drought also hit in 1924, which ruined many of

Georgia’s other cropsGeorgia’s other crops Many farms failed and farm-related businesses Many farms failed and farm-related businesses

closed, which caused many farm workers to leave closed, which caused many farm workers to leave Georgia Georgia

This caused Georgia’s economy to sink into a This caused Georgia’s economy to sink into a depressiondepression

Causes of the Great Causes of the Great DepressionDepression

There were many, many factors that led There were many, many factors that led up to the Great Depressionup to the Great Depression

People had borrowed more money than People had borrowed more money than they could repaythey could repay

Factories had produced more goods than Factories had produced more goods than they could sellthey could sell

Farmers had overproduced their cropsFarmers had overproduced their crops People had been buying and selling in the People had been buying and selling in the

Stock Market, making the stocks higher Stock Market, making the stocks higher then what they were worththen what they were worth

The Stock Market CrashesThe Stock Market Crashes On a Thursday in October 1929, a huge wave of sell orders On a Thursday in October 1929, a huge wave of sell orders

shook the Stock Exchangeshook the Stock Exchange Stock prices plunged, but things recovered and got back on Stock prices plunged, but things recovered and got back on

tracktrack The next week, prices started falling again on MondayThe next week, prices started falling again on Monday On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, there was a mad rush to sell as On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, there was a mad rush to sell as

many stocks as possible causing the worst crash in the many stocks as possible causing the worst crash in the Stock Market’s historyStock Market’s history

Because people had borrowed money from banks to buy Because people had borrowed money from banks to buy stock, when the market crashed, they lost their money and stock, when the market crashed, they lost their money and could not repay the bankscould not repay the banks

Banks failed, people lost jobs because businesses closed, Banks failed, people lost jobs because businesses closed, then lost their homes because they could not pay their then lost their homes because they could not pay their mortgagemortgage

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt In 1932, 3 years after the Depression In 1932, 3 years after the Depression

started, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected started, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected U.S. PresidentU.S. President

During his campaign, he had promised a During his campaign, he had promised a “new deal for the American people”“new deal for the American people”

After taking office, he worked to keep that After taking office, he worked to keep that promise by urging Congress to pass a series promise by urging Congress to pass a series of laws known as the of laws known as the New DealNew Deal that were that were aimed at bringing economic recovery, aimed at bringing economic recovery, relieving suffering of the unemployed, relieving suffering of the unemployed, reforming the economy, and improving reforming the economy, and improving societysociety

Civilian Conservation Corps Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)(CCC)

The CCC was a New Deal program that The CCC was a New Deal program that provided jobs for young single menprovided jobs for young single men

They built forest trails, planted trees, and They built forest trails, planted trees, and built parksbuilt parks

The CCC was popular in Georgia because it The CCC was popular in Georgia because it built many of the facilities at our state parks built many of the facilities at our state parks (Kennesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain)(Kennesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain)

Other CCC projects in Georgia included a Other CCC projects in Georgia included a seawall at Tybee Island, an airport in Macon, seawall at Tybee Island, an airport in Macon, and improving Grady Hospital in Atlantaand improving Grady Hospital in Atlanta

Agricultural Adjustment Act Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)(AAA)

The AAA paid farmers NOT to plant crops The AAA paid farmers NOT to plant crops on part of their landon part of their land

By limiting production, prices would go up By limiting production, prices would go up based on the principle of supply and based on the principle of supply and demanddemand

This helped Georgia recover from low This helped Georgia recover from low cotton pricescotton prices

The drawback was that the payments went The drawback was that the payments went to the land owners, not the tenant to the land owners, not the tenant farmers, and many lost their jobs because farmers, and many lost their jobs because of decreased productionof decreased production

Rural Electrification Authority Rural Electrification Authority (REA)(REA)

In the 1920s, power companies had very In the 1920s, power companies had very few lines running to rural areasfew lines running to rural areas

The ones that did run there were The ones that did run there were expensive to maintain, making power bills expensive to maintain, making power bills higher in the rural areashigher in the rural areas

The REA loaned over $300 million so The REA loaned over $300 million so power lines could be extended in rural power lines could be extended in rural areasareas

This made farm life easier with the use of This made farm life easier with the use of electric water pumps, lights, milking electric water pumps, lights, milking machines, and appliancesmachines, and appliances

Social SecuritySocial Security

The Social Security Act, passed in The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, was designed to provide 1935, was designed to provide retirement and unemployment retirement and unemployment insurance from taxes paid by workers insurance from taxes paid by workers and their employersand their employers

It helped reach the people who could It helped reach the people who could not work, like children, the disabled, not work, like children, the disabled, widows with children, and the elderlywidows with children, and the elderly

One drawback is that farm workers One drawback is that farm workers were not covered by Social Security were not covered by Social Security

Government in GeorgiaGovernment in Georgia

In 1933, Georgians elected a new In 1933, Georgians elected a new governor – Eugene Talmadgegovernor – Eugene Talmadge

He was a conservative white supremacist He was a conservative white supremacist who did not like federal government who did not like federal government intervention or government debtsintervention or government debts

He really disliked the New Deal programsHe really disliked the New Deal programs Instead of using federal money to help Instead of using federal money to help

the unemployed, he would build new the unemployed, he would build new roads or highwaysroads or highways

Talmadge’s Second TermTalmadge’s Second Term

He was re-elected in 1934He was re-elected in 1934 He fired officials who disagreed with him He fired officials who disagreed with him He refused to follow New Deal He refused to follow New Deal

regulations and the federal government regulations and the federal government stepped in and ran the programs in stepped in and ran the programs in GeorgiaGeorgia

Because the Georgia constitution does Because the Georgia constitution does not allow a governor to serve more than not allow a governor to serve more than 2 consecutive terms, he ran for U.S. 2 consecutive terms, he ran for U.S. Senate in 1936, but lostSenate in 1936, but lost

Talmadge ReturnsTalmadge Returns

In 1940, Talmadge ran for governor again In 1940, Talmadge ran for governor again and was electedand was elected

He had softened his stance on the New He had softened his stance on the New Deal and the economy started growingDeal and the economy started growing

Talmadge left with a bad legacy when he Talmadge left with a bad legacy when he refused to allow Georgia’s colleges to refused to allow Georgia’s colleges to integrateintegrate (allow all races to attend) (allow all races to attend)

Georgia was cast in a bad light around the Georgia was cast in a bad light around the countrycountry

Talmadge was not re-elected in 1942Talmadge was not re-elected in 1942

Questions…Questions… 1) What struggle was 1) What struggle was

represented in the 1920s?represented in the 1920s? 2) What types of social 2) What types of social

unrest were present in the unrest were present in the “Roaring Twenties”?“Roaring Twenties”?

3) What destroyed the 3) What destroyed the cotton crop in 1920s cotton crop in 1920s Georgia?Georgia?

4) What came in 1924 that 4) What came in 1924 that destroyed many of destroyed many of Georgia’s farms?Georgia’s farms?

5) What were 4 causes 5) What were 4 causes that led up to the Great that led up to the Great Depression?Depression?

6) What ultimately caused 6) What ultimately caused the Great Depression in the Great Depression in 1929?1929?

7) What was the term for 7) What was the term for Roosevelt’s series of laws Roosevelt’s series of laws that were designed to help that were designed to help the economy?the economy?

8) What was the purpose of 8) What was the purpose of the CCC?the CCC?

9) What were some CCC 9) What were some CCC projects in Georgia?projects in Georgia?

10) What did the AAA do?10) What did the AAA do? 11) How did the AAA help 11) How did the AAA help

Georgia?Georgia? 12) What was a drawback 12) What was a drawback

of the AAA?of the AAA? 13) What did the REA do?13) What did the REA do? 14) What was the Social 14) What was the Social

Security Act designed to Security Act designed to do?do?

More Questions…More Questions…

15) What group was not covered by 15) What group was not covered by Social Security?Social Security?

16) Who was elected as Georgia’s 16) Who was elected as Georgia’s governor in 1933?governor in 1933?

17) How did Talmadge feel about 17) How did Talmadge feel about New Deal programs?New Deal programs?

18) What caused Talmadge to leave 18) What caused Talmadge to leave office with a bad legacy?office with a bad legacy?