The Great Depression and its Impact on America and the World

Pearl Harbor and Other Historical Events

• Mention of attacks on Pearl Harbor and significant historical figures and events
• Kennedy assassination, call to self-evident truths, and the fall of the Berlin Wall

The Great Depression's Toll on America

Unemployment and Desperation

• Army veterans came to Washington D.C. seeking promised bonuses; called the Bonus Army
• Government response: troops called, camps burned, fatalities occurred
• 20,000 veterans demanded early payment of World War I bonuses

Collapse of American Economy

• Wall Street crash of 1929 shattered U.S. confidence
• Loan defaults, layoffs, and bank failures
• Banks failed, with 800 collapsed a year after the crash; significant loss of savings and increased poverty
• Evictions and loss of homes; emotional toll on families

Impact on Daily Lives

• Americans conserved money and resources; strong personal anecdotes detailed
• Use of remaining resources to survive, with poignant stories of families straining to get by
• Dependence on theaters and radio for escape from reality

Cultural Shifts and Social Unrest

Radio and Cinema as Escapism

• Radio dramas were a lifeline and a main source of entertainment
• The prices of entertainment were low making it accessible during tough times

Rise of Unrest and Migration

• Dust Bowl hit farmers hard, leading to a mass exodus towards California
• Use of freight trains to travel, hazardous but necessary for survival
• Society feared revolution and rebellious movements grew

Political and Economic Reactions

Initial Government Inaction

• Limited initial government intervention compounded societal desperation
• Hoover administration's actions or lack thereof

Rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal

• 1932 election of Franklin D. Roosevelt bringing hope with the promise of a 'New Deal'
• New Deal introduced sweeping reforms and assistance programs:
  • Closed banks for stabilization
  • Introduced job creation programs and federal assistance
  • Established Social Security and unemployment insurance
  • Civilian Conservation Corps provided jobs for young men

Unionization and Labor Movements

• Encouragement of labor unions; Longshoremen's strike in San Francisco
• Increased union activities and success leading to widespread strikes

Political Opposition and Threats

• Radical figures like Father Coughlin, Dr. Townsend, and Huey Long
• Huey Long's 'Share Our Wealth' platform and his growing influence
• Assassination of Huey Long in 1935 reducing radical pressures

Final Years and Global Context

Extended Effects of the Great Depression

• By the end of the 1930s, many initiatives had been enacted but full recovery was still distant
• Roosevelt's re-election by a huge margin revealed continued public hope
• Continued challenges even as some stabilization occurred

Parallel Global Events

• Rise of Nazi Germany under Hitler, using rearmament to stimulate the economy
• German reoccupation of the Rhineland, military buildup, implicitly preparing for war

Conclusion

• Long-term impacts of the Great Depression on both American society and the global stage
• Increasing global tensions leading to World War II