(The human impact of the Depression) Workers & hoboes Flashcards
What did the USA lack?
Why?
Infrastructure to deal with mass unemployment as Republican govt believed in meritocracy so there was no federal aid.
The Republican govt believed in meritocracy so there was no federal aid.
What did this result in?
Charities were under heavy strain.
How many migrant workers was there estimated to be by 1932?
1 million.
By what year was there estimated to be 1 million migrant workers?
1932
There was a growth in homelessness and Hoovervilles.
Expand on this.
Due to unemployment, many lost homes and moved to the outskirts of urban areas.
What grew as a result of homelessness and Hoovervilles?
Shantytowns
Why was there a growth in homelessness and Hoovervilles?
Increasing unemployment
Shantytowns grew as a result of homelessness and Hoovervilles.
How many people did shantytowns sometimes home?
Thousands
Who was blamed for the lack of relief and support that led to the growth in homelessness and Hoovervilles?
President Herbert Hoover
How did the dynamic of families change during this time?
Give evidence.
They were under huge strain.
Suicide rates increased from 14 per 10,000 in 1929 to 17.4 by 1932.
How did farmers cope in this time?
Many failed on mortgage payments, sharecroppers failed to pay rent, and many were evicted.
Many farmers failed on mortgage payments, sharecroppers failed to pay rent and many were evicted.
What happened as a result?
Food went to waste as farmers could not afford to harvest it.
What is a shantytown?
A town with houses that aren’t made out of brick and instead, temporary materials.
What did Hoover do to help those living in shantytowns?
Nothing - gave no direct relief or money as he thought it would ruin self-help.
Instead, money could be borrowed.
By 19__, __% of Americans were living in _________.
a) 1929
b) 80%
c) subsistence
