The Great Depression
Date: September, 1925
Description: This photograph was taken during the Roaring Twenties, a time of American prosperity and unending wealth. Materialism reached its high during this period of money and illegal alcohol. Little to no saw the catastrophe lurking at the turn of the century.
Description: This photograph was taken during the Roaring Twenties, a time of American prosperity and unending wealth. Materialism reached its high during this period of money and illegal alcohol. Little to no saw the catastrophe lurking at the turn of the century.
Date: October 29, 1929
Description: Black Tuesday marked the most devastating stock market crash in U.S. history. It sent the U.S. economy into a downward spiral and left the banking system reputation tarnished. The picture was taken on Black Tuesday with people in the street filled with shock and uncertainty of the future. |
Date: 1929-1933
Description: Herbert Hoover was the thirty first president. At During his administration, the great depression began and he said "Any lack of confidence in the economic future or the basic strength of business in the United States is foolish". Because he did not handle the depression well, he lost to FDR by a landslide. The last moments of his presidency were described as Lame Duck, too late to get anything substantial done, too early to leave. |
Date: 1932
Description: As the unemployment rate rose to 23.6%, the unemployed, poor and homeless flocked to food lines and shelters. Millions were left the fend for themselves, no money, food, or hope insight.
Description: As the unemployment rate rose to 23.6%, the unemployed, poor and homeless flocked to food lines and shelters. Millions were left the fend for themselves, no money, food, or hope insight.
Date: November 1932
Description:Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) is elected president in a landslide victory over Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt receives 22.8 million popular votes to Hoover's 15.75 million. The lame duck days are over as the Roosevelt administration is issued in. |
Date: 1933
Description: FDR announces a four-day bank holiday to begin on Monday, March 6. During that time, FDR promises that Congress will work on coming up with a plan to save the failing banking industry. By March 9, Congress passes the Emergency Banking Act of 1933. By month's end, three-quarters of the nation's closed banks are planned be back in business. Under the Emergency Banking Act, FDR orders the nation off of the gold standard. The series of event kicked off FDR's New Deal program. |
Date: March 12, 1933
Description: FDR delivers the first of what came to be known as his "fireside chats." In his initial "chat" he appeals to the nation to join him in "banishing fear." These chats boosted the morale of the nation and was first used to help the American people once again trust the banking system. |
Date: April, 1933
Description: FDR pushed the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) into existence hoping to hit two birds with one stone, unemployment and conservation. Designed as a relief and employment program for young men between the ages of 17 and 27, the CCC is made up of groups of young men who work in national forests, parks, and federal land for nine-month stints. FDR envisioned the program as a kind of volunteer "army." The first 250,000 young men were housed in 1,468 camps around the country. At its peak in 1935, the CCC was supposed to include 500,000 young men.
Description: FDR pushed the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) into existence hoping to hit two birds with one stone, unemployment and conservation. Designed as a relief and employment program for young men between the ages of 17 and 27, the CCC is made up of groups of young men who work in national forests, parks, and federal land for nine-month stints. FDR envisioned the program as a kind of volunteer "army." The first 250,000 young men were housed in 1,468 camps around the country. At its peak in 1935, the CCC was supposed to include 500,000 young men.
Date: April 10, 1933
Description: FDR proposed the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to Congress. The TVA was one of the largest New Deal projects, building dams, reservoirs and electrical stations across several Southern states. It brought affordable power and jobs to millions. The sole water supply of this section of Wilder, Tennessee is seen in this photograph. It was built as a TVA project. |
Date: May 12, 1933
Description: Agricultural Adjustment Act was designed to limit the surplus of farm products so that their prices would go up, allowing the farmers to make a living. The problem with this act was of course that it made it harder for the poor and less wealthy to buy food. |
Date: September 13, 1933
Description: The federal government established the Soil Erosion Service in response to the Dust Bowl (1931-1939). The Dust Bowl sent the loose, dry, and dirty topsoil of the panhandle and great plains regions into the air, creating massive dust storms (above) that blotted out the sky and destroyed farming land. This forced millions to move and change the scenery of a vast location over the course of nine years.
Description: The federal government established the Soil Erosion Service in response to the Dust Bowl (1931-1939). The Dust Bowl sent the loose, dry, and dirty topsoil of the panhandle and great plains regions into the air, creating massive dust storms (above) that blotted out the sky and destroyed farming land. This forced millions to move and change the scenery of a vast location over the course of nine years.
Date: June 1933
Description: Congress passes the Glass-Steagall Act that separates commercial from investment banking and sets up the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to guarantee bank deposits up to $5,000 (which has changed over the years, but is still present). |
Date: October 1933
Description:The Civil Works Administration (CWA) is established. Devised as a wide scale program that could employ up to 4 million people, the CWA greatly improved the lives of its employees and offered a way out for struggling citizens. |
Date: August 1935
Description:The Social Security Act of 1935 was signed into law by FDR. It helped insure many of their retirement. The men above a signing up and receiving their cards. |
Date: November 1936
Description: Defeating Kansas Governor Alfred M. Landon, FDR is elected to his second term as president, winning every state in the Union except Maine and Vermont. Here he is at the Democratic National Convention accepting the nomination. |
Date: November 1940
Description: Franklin Roosevelt is elected to an unprecedented third term as president, defeating Wendell Willkie. FDR's victory is seen as proof of the nation's support of his war and economic policies. Roosevelt lobbies Congress to pass the Lend-Lease Act, which will aid Britain in its struggle to fend off Germany.In little over a year, following Japan's December 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. will enter the war in the Pacific and in Europe. The war effort will jump-start U.S. industry and effectively end the Great Depression. |