Roaring 20’s, The Great Depression
and the New Deal
MR. WILLIAMSON
SOMERVILLE HS
Post-War Adjustment
 American’s yearn for “normalcy” after WWI
 Wanted a return to free market, capitalism, reduction in
federal spending, isolationism in foreign affairs
 Economy recovers – business expands, taxes lowered,
government spending is lower

Due to mass production/Innovation – Henry Ford cars, airplanes,
plastic products, restaurants/hotels, new affordable goods flood the
market
The Roaring Twenties
 Because of strong economy, US now a “consumer
culture”
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New products make life easier (washing machines, refrigerators,
etc.)
Advertising becomes popular – radio mostly, billboards, etc.
Buying on credit
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Arrangement for buying something with borrowed $ then paying the
loan back
 Stock market in the 1920s – enjoyed a bull market,
more and more Americans begin to invest their $ into
stocks
The Roaring Twenties
 New Trends in Pop-Culture – Citizens now have “Leisure
Time”

Average Workweek – 45 hours compared with 70 in 1850, from
working 7 days a week to 5 days
 Question: What do people do when they have free time?
 1920s Pop Culture
 Heroes – Babe Ruth (sports), Amelia Earhart, Henry Ford
(business)
 New Media – Radio, magazines, movies
 The Arts– Music in the Jazz Age, night clubs, artists/writers
The Roaring Twenties
 Discussion Questions
 1. Think of someone TODAY that would be extremely
popular like the people above. It can be anybody in
entertainment, music, sports or business. Why is that
individual popular and respected like the ones discussed
above?
 2. The Charleston was a very popular dance performed by
the youth of the 1920s. What dance or dances of your
lifetime are considered to be popular? Why do you think
they caught on with the public?
 What advancements/inventions TODAY (name 3) do you
believe are most important to the average person?
Pop Culture of the 1920s
 In today’s activity, you will be comparing the pop culture
of the 1920s to today.
 At each station, read the information as a group, look at
the pictures and information provided. Each station has
specific questions to answer; please answer in full
sentences as this will be used for the 2nd half of today’s
challenge.
Pop Culture of the 1920s
 Now that you have read through information on the pop
culture of the 1920s today and answered questions about
today’s culture, let’s compare and contrast the two eras.
Use your answers from the station exercise to help with
your assignment
 You have two choices:
 1. Essay Assignment – 3 paragraphs,
comparing/contrasting the two eras
 2. Venn Diagram – Name/List 10 items for each category
that are specific to pop culture of the 1920s/today as well
as what they have in common
1920s Bio Sketch Rules
 Rules for the Computer Room – Please follow! If not, there will be consequences.

No Food or drink at anytime!

No Social Media Websites – Facebook, Twitter, etc.

No music/Youtube is to be played; cell phones, iPods are to be put away.

No downloads of any kind…Thank You!

Do not switch computers randomly, please notify Mr. Williamson if you have a
problem with your machine

If you are in violation with any of the above, your computer privileges will be
revoked and you will be required to research information on the project on
your own.
Causes of the Great Depression
 Election of 1928 – Republican Herbert Hoover elected
president amid economic/social optimism
 However, troubling signs were beginning to show
 Agriculture – after WWI, farmers’ crops no longer needed, faced
debt/bankruptcy

Uneven Wealth – Worker output increased but wages did not grow
as quickly; industrial workers became “less poor”

Expansion of credit – accumulation of debt from cars/radios begin
to increase
Causes of the Great Depression
 As stock market rises in the 1920s, people began to buy
on margin to increase their profit
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Borrowing large amounts of $ to buy stock
However, when share price drops, creditors demand the $ they are
owed
As a result, homes, cars, or any asset is sold to repay debt
 Black Tuesday, October 1929 – huge drop in the stock
market, the start of the GREAT DEPRESSION

Investors are scared, sell their investments pushing prices down.
Investors lose ~$30 billion in 1 day
Causes of the Great Depression
 Banking Crisis – as stock market crashed, there was
concern that banks, holding $$ of individuals, would
close because of bad loans to stockbrokers and farmers
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People with bank accounts rushed to withdraw their $
BANK RUN – when customers simultaneously withdraw their $ out
of a fear the bank will close
DO NOT COPY - 1933, 1/5 of banks operating in 1930 were closed
Millions of people see their savings vanish
Causes of the Great Depression
 Review Quiz – Complete on index card provided
 1. What was the primary reason farmers fell on hard
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times in the 1920s?
2. What consumer goods were purchased using easy
credit in the 1920s?
3. What was the motivation for individuals to buy stock
on margin?
4. What event sparked a chain of events that led to the
beginning of the Great Depression?
5. What is a bank run and why did they occur after Black
Tuesday?
Causes of the Great Depression
 Hawley-Smoot Tariff
 Tax that raised prices on foreign imports/exports
 With excess inventory (food, goods, etc.), businesses could not sell
overseas
 Crisis in US reaches a global scale, everyone is affected
 With stock crash/bank failures, consumer spending
plunges
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As a result, US businesses cut production, layoff workers
With high unemployment, consumer spending continues to fall
Unemployment rate rises to 25% from a low of 3%
Human Impact of the Great Depression
 Severe poverty in both cities/farms
 Although unemployment was high, some jobs remained
but hours/wages were cut significantly
 Impact –
 Smaller meals, water instead of milk, potatoes instead of meat
 Translates into pop-culture, news & music
 “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?”
Newspaper Article Challenge
 Your Challenge
 Imagine you are a business reporter for the NY Times in
the early 1930s. Your editor has asked you to write a 2paragraph informational article on the causes of the
Great Depression.
 You Must:
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Create a HEADLINE which will grab my attention
Complete a 2-paragraph article discussing the reasons for the
depression
Detail WHY the issues covered led to a bad economy in YOUR OWN
WORDS
See rubric for grading scale, HW grade, good luck!
Wall Walk Directions
 Label the station you are located at. You do not have to
write the question.
 Discuss the primary source in your small group.
 Complete all questions in full and complete sentences.
 Add details where necessary
 6 minutes at each station, do not waste time!
Responding to the Great Depression
 Government/Politicians had differing ideas of how to
“cure” the depression
 Conservative approach – Republican
 Leave it alone and it will improve, “laissez faire” or hands off
 Liberal Approach – Democratic
 Increased spending on public works to create jobs (roads, bridges)
 Tax corporations/wealthy to provide social welfare (government
assistance) for citizens in need
Responding to the Great Depression
 Herbert Hoover, Republican (conservative) President
believed the federal government should not give aid to
the needy

Felt his job was to let the economy “fix” itself

Had faith in “localism”, idea that problems are solved best at the
local and state gov’t level

Favored “rugged individualism” so people could better themselves
through their own efforts
Responding to the Great Depression
 However, Depression continued to worsen, became clear
no policy was not the answer
 Wanted to put $ in hands of banks/businesses through
the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)
Believed
in “trickle-down economics” where they would use gov’t aid
to increase production/employment
However, bankers and businesses do not increase
lending/employment
Public views Hoover as “out of touch” and unwilling to help them in
time of need
Wall Walk Directions
 Label the station you are located at. You do not have to
write the question.
 Discuss the primary source in your small group.
 Complete all questions in full and complete sentences.
 Add details where necessary
 6 minutes at each station, do not waste time!
Human Impact of the Great Depression
 Urban vs. Rural Reality of the Great Depression
 With no job, savings gone, citizens sell any “asset” to
keep the rent-mortgage paid/pantry full

Asset – useful/valuable property, can be used to meet debts
 In cities, “Hoovervilles” spring up in public land/vacant
lots across the US
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Tents/Shacks (shoddy housing), Newspapers – “Hoover blankets”,
Pant pockets turned inside out – “Hoover Flags”
 DO NOT WRITE – WHY DID THEY USE A HOOVER
REFERENCE? WHAT’S THE REASONING?
Human Impact of the Great Depression
 The Rural Depression Experience
 Low crop prices/high debt forces farmers to sell their
land
 Drought/Dust Bowl forces families to migrate out,
referred to as “Okies”
 Sought refuge in CA, OR, WA, where job could be found
 E.G. – “The Grapes of Wrath”
 Significant shift in population from rural to urban states
Urban vs. Rural Impact
 Using your teammate, notebook/textbook , complete the
Venn Diagram below by comparing/contrasting the
impact of the Great Depression on the urban and rural
environments.
 Focus on the struggles each faced, their challenges, etc.
Be SPECIFIC.
 The goal is to have 5-6 items in each portion of the
diagram
 You have 10 minutes, please begin!
Hooverville Diary Project
 Compose a 3-day diary as if you were a resident of the
“Hooverville” in Central Park.
 Each day must be a separate entry (1 paragraph long)
with date, location, etc.
 Review the rubric provided to aid writing (content, form,
quantity) and the total points possible.
 Creativity is the goal here! Due – Tuesday, 23rd!