THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND DUST BOWL Roaring 20

THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND DUST BOWL

Roaring 20 s in Texas (boom cycle) • After World War I, factories made products for people to buy instead of products for war • Business boom in Texas (and U. S. ) • More people working had disposable income to buy things (Ex. cars, refrigerators, etc. ).

Great Depression (1929 – early 1939) • President of the U. S. was Herbert Hoover • Spent $500 million per year on public works projects (ex: Hoover Dam) • Believed in maintaining a balanced budget and not pumping government money into the economy • Believed local charities and state governments should be responsible for providing economic help. • 1 in 4 people were unemployed during the Great Depression

Great Depression (1929 – early 1939) • Economic depression – a period of low economic activity with widespread unemployment (bust cycle) • Great Depression – longest and worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. o Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and without money. o Many depended on the government or charity to provide them with food. • Caused by many contributing factors: 1) Over-production of goods 2) Agricultural prices decreased 3) Stock Market crash

Great Depression (1929 – early 1939)

Great Depression (1929 – early 1939)

Great Depression In Texas • Depression was less severe in Texas than in other states: • Texas was largely a poor, rural state • few Texans owned stock • The oil boom in East Texas provided relief with jobs and sharp increase in land prices

Economic impact • Large increase in unemployment (higher in African Americans and Hispanics) • Texas per capita income (average income of a person): • 1929 = $462 • 1933 = $233 • 1939 = $401 • Decreased prices for cotton and oil in Texas (bust cycle)

Political Impact • People turned to the government for help • President Roosevelt’s “New Deal”: • To address high unemployment, provided federal jobs on specially created government projects • Targeted agriculture, industry, local jobs and the arts • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – employed young men (18 -25) on outdoor conservation projects in Texas • Gave the government more power and helped ease the depression • Video on New Deal - http: //www. history. com/topics/new-deal

Dust Bowl • A series of dust storms throughout the 1930 s that plagued the southern Great Plains, including Texas

Causes of the Dust Bowl • Physical Factors: • Severe drought, limited water supply, high heat and wind • Human Factors • Settlers plowed up most of the grass to grow crops • Overproduction of crops caused land to erode

As a result…

Consequences • Added to crisis of Great Depression in the Midwest • Farmers lost crops, animals, equipment and sometimes homes • Farms lost to foreclosure due to lack of production • One-third of farmers in the Panhandle left Texas to work elsewhere

After World War I, factories made ____________________ instead of products for war.

More people working had ________to buy things (Ex. cars, refrigerators, etc. ).

What is disposable income?

President of the U. S. during the late 20 s and early 30 s?

1 in __ people were unemployed during the Great Depression.

• What is a “boom” cycle? • What is a “bust” cycle?

What was the longest and worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times?

Describe the Great Depression.

How was the Great Depression caused?

Texas was not hit as severely as other states. Why?

What caused a “bust cycle” in Texas?

What was the “New Deal”? Give examples.

What were human and physical factors of the dust bowl?

What added to the crisis of the Great Depression in the Midwest?

Why did Texans in the Panhandle leave Texas to work elsewhere?