USAs economic downturn and recovery Flashcards
what was the unemployment rate at the end of 1929? what had it increased to by 1932?
-2.5 million
-13 million
what was the reason for the rising unemployment?
-the US economy had collpased and there was a fall in world trade
-there was less demand for American goods so buisnesses had to close
what was the percentage of black unemployed compared to white unemployed in 1933?
black = 50%
white = 20%
what were the names of the shanty towns that people set up?
Hoovervilles
when was there a drought in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas?
1931
what was the name for the farmers from Oklahoma who moved after the drought?
Okies
what was the name for the farmers from Arkanasas who moved after the drought?
Arkies
how many farmers moved after the drought turned their farms to dust?
1 million
how many months of the year did some schools in Arkansas close for and why?
they closed for 10 moths of the year becuase they couldnt afford to pay for teachers
what was the suicide rate in 1932?
17.4 suicides per 1000 people (its peak)
what happened to the birth and marriage rates?
they fell
what did veterans do in 1932?
-12,000 veterans marched to Washington DC to ask for early payment of their bonus
what was Hoovers reaction to the veterans marching into Washington?
-he refused them their bonus as it would have cost the gov $2.3million
-congress did fund transport home for all the marchers
-5000 veterans remained and the army was called in
-a baby was killed due to use of tear gas
-two veterans killed
what were some of Hoovers republican policies that were criticised?
-rugged individualism (people had to overcome problems by themselves)
-laissez-faire (the government would limit intervention in the economy)
what year was the election that Roosevelt won by a landslide?
1932
Roosvelt offered new solutions via the New Deal - what three R’s were the policy based on?
-relief (removal of poverty, provide food)
-recovery (boost economy)
-reform (ensure welfare provisions for vaunerable)
what were Roosvelts fireside chats?
-personal explainations of his policies on the radio = restored confidence for americans
what was Roosvelts first fireside chat about?
the banking crisis.
he assured the US people the banks would only open when they were secure
what was the CCC?
-men aged 18-25
-conservation projects (things like planting trees to prevent soil erosion)
-received food, clothes and $1 a day
how many men were employed by the CCC in 1933?
250,000
what was the NRA?
-set up to improve wages, working hours and conditions.
-businesses that signed up to its scheme were allowed to display their symbol of the blue eagle (encouraged people to sign up)
what were:
-hoover blankets
-hoover flags
-hoover wagons
-layers of newspaper
-men’s trouser pockets
-carts with horses tied to them (owners could now afford petrol)
what was Hoover’s Hawley Smoot Tariff Act of 1930?
protected US farmers by increasing import duties on foreign goods
in retaliation, other countries refused to trade with the US
what were three successes of Hoover’s presidency?
-he persuaded state and local city governments to expand their public works programmes
-he began to implement policies that were later followed by his successor Roosvelt like helping banks and homeowners
-during his four year term in office, spending on public works was more than the last 30 years!
give some examples of public works that happened under Hoover’s presidency
-san francisco bay bridge
-los angeles aqueduct
-boulder dam
give some reasons why Hoover was unpopular and therefore he lost the election
-him and the repubicans were blamed for the depression
-only a few months since harsh treatment of the bonus marchers
-banks and bussinesses continued to fail
-relief and government schemes were too small
give some reasons why Roosevelt was popular and therefore won the election
-respected for overcoming the effects of polio which paralysed him from the waist down
-new deal involved the creation of jobs, assistance of the unemployed and government help for farming and industy
-simple and bold approach - mood of optimism
why did Roosevelt close all of the banks for 10 days?
-(this was explained in his first fireside chat)
-he would only allow the banks with assets to reopen
-this meant people felt more confident that their money was safe and no longer wanted to withdraw it