The Great Depression brought hardship, homelessness, and hunger to millions Across the country, people lost their jobs, and their homes Those who managed to keep their jobs had their wages and hours cut. For many, the only food available came from public soup kitchens or bread lines run by charitable organizations. People sold their property to buy food. Shantytowns or Hoovervilles (in mock reference to the president) spring up across the country Hooverville Hoover Flag Hoover Blanket The 1930s created the term hoboes to describe poor drifters 300,000 transients or hoboes hitched rides around the country on trains and slept under bridges (thousands were teenagers) Injuries and death was common on railroad property; over 50,000 people were hurt or killed Grab Mini Q workbooks Turn to page 70 Complete the Hook Exercise with a partner IN NOTEBOOKS DO NOW Unemployment was the highest among minorities and their pay was the lowest Increased violence (24 lynchings in 1933 alone) Treatment of Minorities During the Great Depression African Americans: Many black people were refused charity or public works jobs because of their race. Mexican Americans: During the Great Depression, many people resented having to compete with Mexicans for jobs. Therefore, over 400,000 Mexicans were encouraged (deported) to Mexico, including many American citizens of Mexican descent. The U.S. passed laws limiting the number of Asians allowed into the country and encouraged others to leave. During the Great Depression, many people resented having to compete with Asians for jobs. Asian Americans: Ex.) The Repatriation Act of 1935 gave free transportation to Filipinos that agreed to return to the Philippines and not come back. WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER LIVE DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION? Urban or Rural? WHY? While the Depression was difficult for everyone, farmers did have one advantage; they could grow food for their families Thousands of farmers, however, lost their land Many turned to tenant farming and barely scraped out a living Between almost million farmers lost their land A foreclosure sale in Iowa in the early 1930s when "the bottom fell out of everything." Military police were on hand to keep farmers from disrupting the auction. ca A severe drought gripped the Great Plains in the early 1930s Wind scattered the topsoil, exposing sand and grit The resulting dust traveled hundreds of miles Farmers had dug up thick prairie grasses to plant wheat, so there was nothing to hold the soil in place. Winds traveling as fast as 100 mile- per-hour winds blew dust clouds 8,000 feet tall in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado Wildlife and farm animals suffocated in the choking winds Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado were the hardest hit regions during the Dust Bowl Many farmers migrated to California and other Pacific Coast states Boy covers his mouth to avoid dust, 1935 Photographer Dorothea Lange captures a family headed west to escape the dust storms Suicide rate rose more than 30% between Alcoholism rose sharply in urban areas Three times as many people were admitted to state mental hospitals as in normal times Many people showed great kindness to strangers Additionally, many people developed habits of savings & thriftiness Movies Reading Playing Games Radio