The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

Sections Two and ThreeSections Two and Three

Native Grasses & Sod Native Grasses & Sod Destroyed Destroyed

Land was ravaged for decades by Land was ravaged for decades by humanshumans

Native grasses had sheltered the soil Native grasses had sheltered the soil But Sodbusters plowed up the native But Sodbusters plowed up the native

grasses to grow wheat & corngrasses to grow wheat & corn Sod was so thick & wood was so Sod was so thick & wood was so

scarce in the Great Plains that early scarce in the Great Plains that early settlers built their shelters by digging settlers built their shelters by digging into the sod.into the sod.

Sod ShelterSod Shelter

Drought & Dust StormsDrought & Dust Storms

After decades of destroying the sod After decades of destroying the sod when the winds finally came all when the winds finally came all topsoil was removedtopsoil was removed

Imagine seeing a wall of black dust Imagine seeing a wall of black dust up to a 1000 ft highup to a 1000 ft high

Dust storms like these plagued the Dust storms like these plagued the Great Plains between 1932-1939Great Plains between 1932-1939

Together with the Gt. Depression Together with the Gt. Depression 1000s of farmers were wiped out1000s of farmers were wiped out

Parched Land from Parched Land from DroughtDrought

Dust StormDust Storm

Impact of Dust BowlImpact of Dust Bowl

Got Farm?Got Farm?

Farmers in DistressFarmers in Distress

During 1920s – ’30s farm prices During 1920s – ’30s farm prices were fallingwere falling

Falling prices kept farmers from Falling prices kept farmers from paying their mortgagespaying their mortgages

Many lost their farms to foreclosureMany lost their farms to foreclosure Penny Auctions took place in which Penny Auctions took place in which

friends bought the farm for a penny friends bought the farm for a penny and then returned it to their friendsand then returned it to their friends

Tough TimesTough Times

The OkiesThe Okies

Okies were farmers who lost Okies were farmers who lost everything and abandoned their everything and abandoned their fields in search of new opportunitiesfields in search of new opportunities

Many came to CA where they Many came to CA where they worked for almost nothingworked for almost nothing

Not welcome by most, harassed by Not welcome by most, harassed by law enforcement, sometimes turned law enforcement, sometimes turned away at the border.away at the border.

Okies Move WestOkies Move West

Tenant Farmers Hit HardTenant Farmers Hit Hard As fed’l gov paid subsidies to As fed’l gov paid subsidies to

landowners not to grow products so landowners not to grow products so prices would riseprices would rise

So landowners evicted tenant farmers So landowners evicted tenant farmers off the landoff the land

Subsidies given to landowners were Subsidies given to landowners were then used to buy new technology then used to buy new technology which further reduced the need for which further reduced the need for farm hands or tenant farmersfarm hands or tenant farmers

AA tenant farmers were hit AA tenant farmers were hit disproportionately harddisproportionately hard

Tenant Farmers on the Tenant Farmers on the movemove

Mexican-AmericansMexican-Americans Faced discriminationFaced discrimination 12,000 rounded up and deported 12,000 rounded up and deported

to Mexico between 1931-1934to Mexico between 1931-1934 Even Mex-Americans faced Even Mex-Americans faced

discriminationdiscrimination Many asked to be repatriated to Many asked to be repatriated to

MexicoMexico In Texas, 60% of all people of Mex In Texas, 60% of all people of Mex

descent returned to Mex by Jan 31descent returned to Mex by Jan 31

In the CityIn the City By 1933 ¼ of all people were By 1933 ¼ of all people were

unemployedunemployed AA lost their jobs first, followed by AA lost their jobs first, followed by

other minorities, then full time other minorities, then full time employees were asked to share employees were asked to share their jobs with otherstheir jobs with others

People lost their homes, People lost their homes, possessionspossessions

Hoovervilles Hoovervilles – temporary shelters– temporary shelters Bread lines, soup kitchensBread lines, soup kitchens Loss of hopeLoss of hope

Hooverville, USAHooverville, USA

In the FamilyIn the Family Men lost status and self-esteem due to Men lost status and self-esteem due to

inability to support the familyinability to support the family Women economized to keep families Women economized to keep families

from starving & often took up home from starving & often took up home craftscrafts

Women faced discrimination in Women faced discrimination in professional jobs but kept the traditional professional jobs but kept the traditional female occupations such as clerical jobsfemale occupations such as clerical jobs

Hoboes – in search of jobs across the Hoboes – in search of jobs across the country & ashamed to return home country & ashamed to return home many deserted their familiesmany deserted their families

Growing up in the ’30sGrowing up in the ’30s

Psychological and spiritual Psychological and spiritual depression as well as economicdepression as well as economic

People avoided socializing because People avoided socializing because ashamed of torn clothesashamed of torn clothes

Young people put off getting marriedYoung people put off getting married Married couples put off having Married couples put off having

childrenchildren UndernourishmentUndernourishment Lack of hope & faith led to deep Lack of hope & faith led to deep

despairdespair Left invisible scarLeft invisible scar

Car Craze ContinuesCar Craze Continues

Cars were status symbolsCars were status symbols Car shows continued to draw Car shows continued to draw

1000s1000s Tourism increased during the ’30sTourism increased during the ’30s Auto industry continued to growAuto industry continued to grow

Electricity Transforms the Electricity Transforms the HomeHome The appliance revolution begun in The appliance revolution begun in

the ’20s continued thru the ’30s.the ’20s continued thru the ’30s. Made possible by gov programs that Made possible by gov programs that

brought electricity to all regionsbrought electricity to all regions Household chores became easierHousehold chores became easier

Escape through Escape through EntertainmentEntertainment Double feature matineeDouble feature matinee TalkiesTalkies Easy escapeEasy escape Ornate theatresOrnate theatres Color filmColor film Gone With the Wind allowed people Gone With the Wind allowed people

to escapeto escape 60-90 m people went to moves 60-90 m people went to moves

during average week in the ’30sduring average week in the ’30s

Golden Age of RadioGolden Age of Radio

Radio was a piece of furniture which Radio was a piece of furniture which served as the visual focus & served as the visual focus & entertainment center in the homeentertainment center in the home

10 m radios in 1929; 30 m by 193910 m radios in 1929; 30 m by 1939 Mass media featured soap operas, quiz Mass media featured soap operas, quiz

shows, children’s programming such shows, children’s programming such as Superman, Lone Rangeras Superman, Lone Ranger

Evenings featured comedy and variety Evenings featured comedy and variety shows or dramatic presentationsshows or dramatic presentations

First National Form of First National Form of EntertainmentEntertainment

Literature & the ArtsLiterature & the Arts

Literature such as the Grapes of Literature such as the Grapes of Wrath – John SteinbeckWrath – John Steinbeck

Art - American Gothic – Grant WoodArt - American Gothic – Grant Wood Documentary photographyDocumentary photography

All these artistic forms sought to All these artistic forms sought to portray the Gr Depression as it really portray the Gr Depression as it really was.was.

American Gothic – Grant American Gothic – Grant WoodWood

Grapes of Wrath – John Grapes of Wrath – John SteinbeckSteinbeck

The EndThe End