The Depression, Recovery, and Growth
The Great Depression
• 1929 stock market crash started it• Uncle Sam helped more Colorado folks that
the state• The Banks failed-then reopened FDIC
under FDR• 25 % of the people lost their jobs-young
people moved back home• Old people suffered the most-soup lines
were everywhere
Impact on Agriculture
• It cost more to raise livestock or plant crops than could be earned
• Co-ops formed to pool money to share the burden
• Drought and dust storms ruined many areas, followed by grasshoppers
The New Deal
• 1932-FDR is elected promising a ‘New Deal” to the American people.
• In Colorado, Edward Costigan became Senator-passed Silver Purchase Act of 1934 allowing silver to be bought at $1.29 an ounce and gold at $35 an ounce-mines opened again
The WPA and the CCC
• Works Progress Administration-put 150,000 people to work in Colorado
• Roads, schools, airports, and ball fields were just some of the projects
• WPA set up drama programs for unemployed actors and artist created murals in downtown Denver
WPA and CCC• The CCC-Civilian Conservation Corps, put
18-25 year olds to work on outdoors projects
• They built trails, campgrounds, and fought forest fires
• The Taylor Grazing Act-allowed ranchers to use national forest land and CCC workers built watering holes and repaired fences
World War II and Recovery
• Colorado farmers and ranchers sold goods overseas
• Many men from Colorado left to fight and women took their place in the workplace
• Wartime shortages saw rationing and Victory gardens
• Minerals that make steel stronger were mined in Colorado-Leadville’s Climax mine
World War II and Recovery
• Military bases and hospitals built in Colorado-Lowery Airforce base, and Fort Carson
• Camp Hale-near Leadville trained soldiers to fight in the Alps-later soldiers returned an created Aspen ski area along with 30 other ski areas
Post War Boom
• Air Force Academy set up N. of Colorado Springs
• Many of the stationed soldiers moved to Colorado after the war
• The Federal Center was built in Lakewood Colorado
• After WW II, Colorado became one of the fastest growing states in the country