Great Depression and Dust Bowl

  • Bank Failures

    The downward economic fall of 1929 caused more than 650 bank failures therefore reducing the money supply and increasing the value of the dollar.
  • President Herbert Hoover

    President Herbert Hoover’s economic policies and belief that capitalism itself would fix any economic downfall helped start the Depression.
  • Black Thursday

    The stock market crash of Oct 24, 1929 Black Thursday, “kicked off” the Great Depression
  • Sideways Stock Market

    the stock market was officially at rock bottom and started sideways trading (prices did not change very often)
  • Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act

    President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, raising the taxes on over 900 imported goods causing other countries to retaliate, starting a trade war and causing international trade to collapse
  • Dust Bowl

    In around 23 states, a drought was started called the Dust Bowl, which was the worst drought in over 300 years
  • Tennessee Bank Failure

    The Tennessee bank failed, along with affiliated banks over the next few days. The economy was actually improving up to this point but had a downfall again due to weak banking systems.
  • United States Bank Failure

    The bank of the United States, also the 4th largest bank in the nation, failed causing the biggest bank failure at the time.
  • Reconstruction Finance Corporation

    the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was started by congress to lend out $2 Billion to financial institutions to prevent another similar failure in the future.
  • Open Market Operations

    As part of the open market operations, the Federal Reserve System bought over $1b in securities and added liquidity to 'cash-strapped banks'