The Great Depression had a devastating impact on the US economy and society in the 1930s: - Unemployment rose to over 25% of the workforce, with some cities seeing rates as high as 40%. Over 15 million Americans were unemployed. - Many banks failed between 1929-1933, with over 10,000 closing and wiping out the savings of millions. - Industrial production was cut in half, with auto production falling from 4.5 million vehicles in 1929 to 1.1 million in 1933. - Prolonged drought led to massive dust storms in the Midwest, displacing many farmers and further worsening the economic conditions.

1. Great Depression How Bad Was It?

2. The Great Depression

3. 100,000 businesses failed. Stock values fell from $89 billion to $15 billion. From 381 to 41. $74 billion was lost. 25% unemployment rate [15 million](125 million in the U.S.) [Unemployment was 3% in 1929.] Unemployment stayed above 14.3% from 1931-1940. Average unemployment was 18% 10,797 banks failed out of over 25,000, taking the life savings of 9 million people. The Great Depression [How Bad Was It?]

4. In some cities, girls danced only for 10 cents . 333,000 could not go to school. M any schools were open only three days a week for eight months. One million lost their homes. Housing starts dropped 90%. GDP dropped from $104 billion in 1929 to $56 billion in 1933. “ That will be .10”. “ Don’t thank me. Thank God someone asked you to dance. “ I didn’t say, ‘Would you like to dance,’ I said, you look fat in those pants.” The Great Depression

5. The Great Depression was so bad that when Bonnie and Clyde were shot, [Clyde’s body had 187 bullet holes and Bonnie’s body had 52 bullet holes] that morticians complained that they couldn’t hold embalming fluid.

6. Their “death hats” were auctioned for $32,000. Clyde’s “death shirt” auctioned for $85,000 “ Death car” w. 160 bullet holes auctioned for $250,000. 1967 “Movie Death car” Many of the bullets went thru the car door, Clyde’s body, Bonnie’s body, then out the other side of the death car. T he “32 Ford” & “ 57 C hevy” are the cornerstone cars of the hot-rod business. And – the Chrysler 300

7. Apple sellers could make $1.15 profit on 72 sold apples. Many factory wages went from .55 an hour to .05 an hour. Agriculture collapsed. Prices and wages dropped around 25%. Factory production dropped 50%. Auto production fell from 4.5 million cars in 1929 to 1.1 million in 1933. Those who checked into hotels were asked, “ For sleeping or jumping”? The Great Depression [continued]

8. “ F or S leeping or jumping?

9. Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas - 1934 THE DUST BOWL

10. Storm approaching Elkhart, Kansas in 1937

11. Dust buried cars and wagons in South Dakota in 1936

13. Photographer Dorothea Lange captures a family headed west to escape the dust storms

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