(2b) The Human impact of the Depression

Question 1

Workers and Hoboes

Answer 1

The US lacked the infrastructure for mass unemployment - no federal aid because unemployment was seen as the individual’s fault - charity under immense pressure.
By 1932, 1 million migrant (itinerant) workers.

Question 2

Workers and Hoboes:

Homelessness and Hoovervilles

Answer 2

• Many moved to shanty towns on the outskirts of industrial towns and cities after losing their houses.
• Shanty towns grew and were known as ‘Hoovervilles’ - they blamed President Hoover.
• St Louis, Missouri, saw the largest and longest standing Hooverville.

Question 3

Impact on Families

Answer 3

Huge strain on families as they received very little aid (referenced later).
The marriage rate decreased:
   - 1929: 1.23 million
   - 1932: 982,000
There was also a fall in birth rate:
   - 1929: 21.2 per thousand.
   - 1932: 19.5 per thousand.

Question 4

Suicide rates ____ from – per 10,000 to __._ per 10,000 between 19__ and 19__.

Answer 4

Suicide rates rose from 14 per 10,000 to 17.4 per 10,000 between 1929 and 1932.

Question 5

Impact on Farmers

Answer 5

• Many failed on mortgage payments
• Sharecroppers failed to pay rent and were evicted.
• Food was wasted because farmers couldn’t afford to harvest it.

Question 6

Impact on ethnic minorities:

Black Americans

Answer 6

• Unemployment amongst black Americans was 4-6 times higher than white americans.
• By 1933: 50% of Black Americans were unemployed vs 25% of white Americans.
• Northern migration slowed (300,000 in the Depression years).
• Most southern sharecroppers were black Americans.

Question 7

Impact on ethnic minorities:

Native Americans

Answer 7

• Already living in immense poverty due to the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 - native american land had been sold off and they had to assimilate.
• Many lived in squalor and idleness.
• Depression made it harder to leave poverty.

Question 8

Impact on ethnic minorities:

Hispanic Americans

Answer 8

• 400,000 were repatriated (deported) back to Mexico.

- Many who were forced to leave were actually US citizens.

Question 9

Impact on women

Answer 9

• More likely to lose their jobs than men.
• Many married women had to work to support the family - however, HALF of the 48 states banned the employment on married women.
• Blamed for male unemployment.
• 1930: 75% of school authorities refused to employ married women.

Question 10

Family Aid

Answer 10

1931: 3.8 million one-parent families (headed by a woman).

Only 19,280 received any aid.

Question 11

Extent of relief

Answer 11

Before 1932:

NO STATE had any unemployment insurance - only 11 had any form of pensions.

Question 12

Gangsterism

Answer 12

• Huge increase in violent crime.
• Outlaws were seen as Robin Hood characters - such as Bonnie and Clyde.
• John Dillinger became ‘Public Enemy Number One’ and was caught in an FBI trap in Chicago (1934).

Question 13

The _____ cost of the Depression was ________. Millions were __________, and many became ______ travelling the country in search of work.

Answer 13

The human cost of the Depression was enormous. Millions were unemployed, and many became hoboes travelling the country in search of work.