We saw a crowd of some fifty men fighting over a barrel of garbage which had been set outside the back door of a restaurant. American citizens fighting for scraps of food like animals! - Louise Armstrong Louise http://www.pbs.org/w gbh/americanexperien ce/crash/
Money, Money, Money! This is where it all starts
The day of the crash
More days after.
More days/months/ years after
Headlines tell the story
Hoovervilles Remember those speculators? People buying on margin? What happened once they could not pay back their loan? Families lived in shacks made of boxes, wood, tents, scraps Outskirts of cities 12 million out of work
More Hoovervilles.. 25% unemployment 50% in Harlem No jobs, no income Hoboes hopped from train to train looking for work, food some left families behind
People hated Hoover! Hoover blankets Hoover flags Hoover hogs Hoover wagons http://www.abcnews.go.com/business/slideshow?id=5993810
The nominees in 1932 Real causes of the GD were world conditions the US could not control I ve been traveling with Presidents since Theodore Roosevelt and never before have I seen one actually booed, with men running out into the streets to thumb their noses at him. It s not a pretty sight. Democratic nominee - Franklin D. Roosevelt Loved to campaign Cheering crowds Loved to try new things Eloquent, persuasive, confident
A new deal for the American people I pledge you, I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people. This is more than a political campaign; it is a call to arms. Give me your help to restore America to its own greatness --- FDR
FDR s Presidential win! FDR easily beat Hoover in 1932 - common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails,. try another. But above all, try something. 57 percent of the vote Carried 42 out of 48 states 12 million Americans out of work Banking system in near collapse This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
FDR s early steps to change 1. Brain Trust - college professors, lawyers, labor leaders, social workers, cabinet members - all agreed SOMETHING was necessary. But what?? Factoid Frances Perkins, 1st female member of cabinet Who was an influential female close to President Bush? What about President Obama? 2. Bank Holiday issued executive order closing all nation s banks for 4 days beginning March 6 Emergency Banking Act - passed Mar. 9 - gov. able to look at bank records, correct problems, only stable banks allowed to re-open 3. 100 days - FDR called special session of Congress beginning Mar. 9 - mid June, early New Deal programs passed
OK, so what is a New Deal for Americans? Programs to provide help, support for American people Can be put into category s of RELIEF, RECOVERY, REFORM First New Deal (1933-1935) focused on relief/recovery, helping Americans IMMEDIATELY get jobs, money, housing, back on their feet Second New Deal (1935-1937) focused on social reform issues FDR felt the country needed http://www.history.com/video.do?name=americ anhistory&bcpid=1676043206&bclid=171650043 3&bctid=1533029205 Called alphabet soup programs - TVA, PWA, CCC, WPA, FDIC, SEC, AAA, HOLC
More of FDR s changes Fireside chats - started Sunday Mar. 12, day before banks were supposed to re-open weekly radio addresses wanted Americans to think he was in their house talking to them PERSONALLY Millions sat around radio listening to FDR tell people it was OK to put their money back into the banks I never saw him, but I knew him.
Comics. Depression-era pop culture Books.
Taking their mind s off their troubles Music Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman Swing dancing helped Americans forget troubles, dance their cares away! Movies.
Taking their mind s off their troubles Radio shows Little Orphan Annie and The Shadow 97 million - 129 million listened to radio programs Sports Without radio They would not have survived! Iron Horse aka Lou Gehrig - 2,130 consecutive games Jesse Owens - sprinter, long jump