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Period: to
tHE GREAT DEPRESSION
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The Great Depression begins
The American stock market collapses, starting the Great Depression. This happened on "Black Tuesday", which was October 29th, 1929. Many things have led up to this event occurring. The stock market collapsing put many people in debt and led to an uproar throughout America. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
Congress passes the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff was created by the government to help protect American companies as a result of the businesses failing. The tariff charged a high tax on imports, leading to less trade between America and foreign countries. All in all, the tariff didn’t work at all. -
Roosevelt's Election
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected. He runs in a campaign against President Herbert Hoover, who was losing his popularity because people thought he was worsening the depression. In the end Roosevelt won by a landslide! This was the first election in the United States since 1876 in which the Democratic candidate won a majority of the votes. -
Roosevelt Closes All Banks
On March 4th, Roosevelt declares a ‘Bank Holiday’, closing every bank in America. Roosevelt does this to closed financial intuitions, to stop a run on banks. This upsets many because it puts the bankers out of work. -
Roosevelt is Inaugurated
The first inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the 32nd President of the United States was held on Saturday, March 4, 1933. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President. With the nation in the grips of the Great Depression, his inaugural speech was awaited with great anticipation.The speech was heard by tens of millions of Americans and set the stage for Roosevelt's urgent efforts to respond to the crisis. -
Works Progress Administration
The WPA employed millions of unskilled workers to carry out community service projects. These projects were including the construction of public buildings and roads, and helping with drama, media, and literacy projects. It fed children and redistributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the agency. At its peak, in 1938, it provided paying jobs for three million men, women, and some youth. -
FDR's Other Election
In 1936, there was a presidential election. The election took place as the United States entered its eighth year of The Great Depression. Roosevelt ran again, and his Republican opponent was Governor Alf Landon of Kansas. Roosevelt was most likely going to win because of the New Deal policies he had already enacted, such as Social Security and unemployment benefits. Also because these things had proven to be highly popular with most Americans. Of course, Roosevelt won by a land-slide, yet again. -
Hindenburg Disaster
At 7:25 p.m. on May 6th, 1937, the Hindenburg attempted to land. Suddenly, a flame appeared on the outer cover of the rear of it. Within thirty-four seconds, the entire air ship went up in flames. This disaster added to the stress of living during the great depression. People were now afraid to go outside, in fear that something else bad would happen. -
80% Own a Radioset
Eighty percent of Americans now have a radio set for entertainment and to gain information. It was during the Depression that radio truly attracted a huge audience in the United States. Radio ownership more than doubled in the 1930s, from about 40 percent of families at the decade’s start to nearly 90 percent ten years later. By 1940 more families had radios than had cars, telephones, electricity, or plumbing. Across the country, millions and millions of listeners heard the same programs for hou -
The Great Depression Ends
The world's longest and most severe economic slump ends in 1939. Once The Great Depression ends, Americans can slowly begin to rebuild their lives and change the course of history. People look for new jobs to support their families because they are now motivated that they have a 'new beginning'.
