UNITED STATES HISTORY

1930 To 1940

The Great Depression

To solve their money problems, many Americans turned to the Stock Market. Many people invested in different bussinesses. However, in Octobor 1929, the stock market crashed. Many stocks became worthless. People lost their money. The United States entered a depression.

The clothing and coal mining bussinesses grew smaller while big bussinesses gree. Thousands of workers lost their jobs. In 1932, the U.S economy had almost fallen apart. Many people losty their jobs. Unused goods begun to pile up. Some factories made less goods. So they needed fewer workers. Families had less than $1.50 a day for food. Farm families were deeply hurt by the depression.

The failure for the goverment and big bussiness to help made Americans angry. Some workers without jobs joined the communists party. some farmers destroyed their crops rather than sell them at unfair prices. Many WW1 vetrans protested in Washington D.C in 1932.

The Grat Depression brought many changes to American familes. Some familes who worked togehter grew closer. However, having no job or home tore familes apart. Many men who felt hopeless left their wives and children. Many teenagers felt they should support themselves so they left home. Millions of young children had to work to help their familes. Children as young as seven years old sold newpapers, ran errands, and did yard work. Many children had to leave school to work.

african Americans had been among the poorest Americans for a long time. Their lives became harder when the Grwat Depression began, African Americans were the first workers to be fired. Many owners lowered their pay to save money. Many had the most dirty and dangourus jobs. Many lost their jobs to white people.

Presidnet Hoover's Actions

When the Great Depression began, Americans wondered why Hoover had few plans to help the economy. In fact, some of Hoover's actions made the economy worse. In 1930, Hoover signed a law that hurt trade with foriegn countries. As a result fewer goods came into the country.

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was elected as President. Roosevelt felt that the goverment should do more to help Americans. Hoover thought that his plan was a danger to Americans. Roosevelt said that it was the goverment's job to end the depression.