Americans Face Hard Americans Face Hard TimesTimes

Mr. Brink12.2

Honors United States History

A Bread LineA Bread Line

Bank FailuresBank Failures

Farm ForeclosuresFarm Foreclosures

• In 1933: 364,000 farms went bankrupt and were foreclosed.

UnemploymentUnemployment

• in 1920's U.S. Eco. was based on the productivity – purchasing power - employment cycle

• for many goods to be produced , purchasing demand had to be there: this resulted in high employment and a healthy economy

• b/n 1924-27, U.S. productive capacity doubled but it was b/c of technological innovation electricity and mechanical advances made for better production, but no new jobs were added to the economy

• so more consumer goods were available, but there weren't nec. more people to buy them (OVERPRODUCTION)

President Herbert HooverPresident Herbert Hoover

• Relied on “rugged individualism” and cooperation rather than government interference.

HoovervillesHoovervilles

HoboesHoboes

• Migrant workers roam the country looking for a job or a handout where they can find it.

• Hobo Signs– http://

www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm

Vagrancy and Chain GangsVagrancy and Chain Gangs

“Move on . . . You are not welcome here!”

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

• Drought hits the Plains in 1931.

• Poor farming practices makes the topsoil vulnerable.

A “Farm” in the Dust BowlA “Farm” in the Dust Bowl

Cars Trying to Escape a Dust Cars Trying to Escape a Dust StormStorm

Okies to CaliforniaOkies to California

To escape the Dust Bowl, many “Okies” take Route 66 (The Mother Road) west to find work in California fruit orchards.

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

WOODY GUTHRIE