Topic 3 Flashcards
what was the Well street Crash
a dramatic fall in stock prices over a 5 day period starting 24th October 1929
Long term causes of the Wall Street crash
> Speculation- Am. encouraged to buy stock to make quick profit. creating investment culture
President Policies- Laissez-faire meant no regulation
Buying on credit- ‘buying on the margin’ meant Am. took loans out and had to repay them -80% Am. didnt have sayings
interest rates- low interest meant more money was borrowed
short term reasons for Wall St.Crash
> Tariffs- Hoover promised increased tariffs so speculation caused pushed up share prices -> senate announed to stop increased tarriffs so people sold stock
Loss of confidence- experienced investors sold stock causing everyone to sell stock
panic selling- Oct 24th 12 million shares solf- loosing $4bn. stockbrokens called back loans ‘margin call’, people sold shared to repay loans. bankers put $40bn into eco. by 29th 16m. shares had been sold and $30bn. lost from eco.
consequences of Wall St. Crash
> destroyed confidence
underlying causes of Depression
> farming
staple ind.
easy credit
how was farming an underlying cause of the Depression
> prospered during war
as war ended other countries produced themselves
Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act meant other countries increase imports from Sm = harder to export
prohibition damaged grain ind.
US farm income 1919- $22bn. 1928 $13bn
Average farmer produced enough for 15 families
prices fell 50%
Agricultural Credits Act 1923 and Capper-Volstead Act 1923 not enough
by 1924 600,000 lost land, 16m. on income less than $2,00pa
value of farmland fell 30%
how was staple ind. an underlying cause of the Depression
> coalmining, shipbuilding, railroads, textiles
mechanisation increased unemployment
boom only benefitted consumer markets
how was easy credit an underlying cause of the Depression
> things could be paid for on monthly or weekly basis
discouraged saving (80% didnt save)
buy-now-pay-later mentality
people put into debt
short term causes of depression
> over production
Wall St. Crash
Banking crisis
how was overproduction a short-term cause of the Depression
> those who had items (car, fridge, washing machines) didn’t need another
but same rate of production continued
created a surplus
people fired
how was the Wall St. Crash a short-term cause of the Depression
beginning/trigger
> psychological blow
how was The banking crisis a short-term cause of the Depression
> banks had insufficient funds with which to repay customers as word spread people rushed to withdraw money.
10m. saving accounts lost
Impact of Depression
> GDP $104 1929 to $56bn 1932 > Workers > Farmers > Foreign policy > business failures > unemployment
what was the impact on workers in the Depression
> 25% unemployed -> 1929 2m 1933 15m > Chicago 40% unemp. >hoovervilles > Full time steel workers -> 1929 225,000 1932- 0 > 12 eggs 28c
what was the impact on farmers in the depression
> worsened state
dust bowls
Hawley-Smoot Tariff act
1/4 farmers lost land
price of wheat 1919 $2.16 1932 38c
Agricultural Farming Act 1929- loans to farmers
Grain Stabalisation Corperation 1930- good prices to farmers
sold land and left to pay off mortgages
what was the impact on foreign policy in the depression
> isolationism
no action e.g. Manchuria
Neutrality Acts
what was the impact on business in the Depression
1929 23 thou failed
1932- 32 thou
1936 10 thou
what was the impact of mass employment from the Depression
> lower consumer demand
run on the banks
school drop outs- non-attendance 300,000
suicide increased by 25%
hoovers election
won by 444 electoral votes to 87
Bonus marches
1932
> 20,000 veterans demanded early bonuses.
> Hoover sent 10,000 men with tanks, and tear gas and burnt camp.
> killed 2 and injured 1000
Federal Farm Boards
1930
> loans to farmers and stabilise prices
> however Am. Canada, Argentina overprduce so doesn’t work
Hawley Smoot Tariff Act
June 1930
> raised import duties
> other countries rose in response
> Hoovers biggest mistake
Voluntarism
Hoovers policy on charitable and voluntary aid instead of gov. intervention
> rugged individualism
> relied too much on it
PWA
1933 Public Works Admin
> large scale public work programmes created employment
> on building projects such as bridges, roads and houses
> $4bn spent by 1934 when it ended
National Credit Corperation
1931
encourage banks to loan to smaller banks
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
1932
> provide aid to railroads, business and financial instituions to stabalise ind.
> unsuccessful
Bonus marches
1932
> 20,000 veterans demanded early bonuses.
> Hoover sent 10,000 men with tanks, and tear gas and burnt camp.
> killed 2 and injured 1000
1st New Deal
TVA AAA NIRA NRA EBA FERA PWA CCC