The Great Depression Essay

In this essay, the author

• Explains that the great depression occurred from 1929 and lasted to the early 1940's. it was a deep and tragic period of time where everyone was affected in some capacity.
• Explains that before the great depression, the united states was flourishing with technology and consumer spending. the roaring twenties brought prosperity to the economy.
• Explains that life expectancy began to decrease during the 1920s. suicide peaked when unemployment rose. men felt useless and worthless to their families once they lost their jobs.
• Explains that the jazz period took its wings in 1933. the eighteenth amendment prohibited alcohol, even though it did not ban the consumption of alcohol in most households.
• Opines that the grapes of wrath, written by john steinbeck, was their favorite book about the great depression.
• Explains that the great depression began with the stock market crash of 1929. stockholders lost more than 40 million dollars two months after the crash.
• Explains that over the 1930's more than 9,000 banks had failed. with people spending less money, fewer items were produced, and thus less jobs were needed. the drought conditions in the mississippi valley contributed to the loss of farmers land.
• Explains that the smooth-hawley tariff act stopped european trade due to high taxes on importing. it was not productive and not helping the depression.
• Explains herbert hoover was the president at the time of the stock market crash. he founded government agencies, supported local aid for public works, appealed to every outside source for funding except the federal government.
• Explains that investors started taking their money out of banks because they didn't feel safe. hoover and his administration did their best to fix the situation.
• Explains that president roosevelt introduced "the new deal" to announce a four-day bank holiday and addressed the public over the radio. he thought it was important for the american people to know what was going on.
• Explains that he needed reform and to protect the banking industry. he created the fdic (federal deposit insurance corporation) and the sec (securities and stock exchange).
• Explains that fdr produced a series of programs to boost the economy and create jobs for the people in 1933 when he took office. there are ten major programs that helped accomplish these goals.
• Explains the ccc, the civil works administration, and the national recover act.
• Explains that fdr enacted as many programs as possible to help the recovery of the banks, unemployment, and losses that everyone felt. he put into effect the emergency banking act.
• Explains that the new deal led to increased federal regulation, introduced many programs for the labor force, and a growing power of labor unions.
• Analyzes how fdr's wife, eleanor, was a strong advocate for black rights but the new deal programs prohibited discrimination. she helped her husband during his presidency.
• Explains that fdr created various programs to address the high rates of unemployment and poverty that echoed across the united states.
• Explains that fdr initiated a series of programs for the homeowners, such as the hola (home owners loan act) of 1933 and the fha (federal housing act).
• Explains that the united states housing act created the u.s. housing authority and built public housing. shanty towns were created for people who could not afford to live in their homes.
• Explains that the great depression was the worst economic crisis in the u.s. world war 2 ended the depression with better balanced markets and lower taxes.
• Opines that after many years of hardships and recovery, our world is standing tall. the depression was definitely a gruesome and difficult time for many.