The Great Depression had severe effects on the United States economy and population in the 1930s. Unemployment rose dramatically to over 13 million people, one quarter of the workforce, as GDP was cut nearly in half. Farmers and banks were especially hard hit, with thousands of bank closures and repossessed farms. Soup kitchens and poverty were widespread as living standards declined sharply. President Hoover initially relied on voluntary measures by businesses to maintain employment and wages, but these efforts failed as layoffs increased. His other measures, like public works projects, were inadequate and uneven across states and localities.

1. The ‘Great’ Depression. The effects of the great depression. Herbert Hoover’s attempts to deal with the Depression. Long & short term causes of the depression.

2. The Effects of the Great Depression. Rise in unemployment – before the crash 1.5 million people were out of work . In March 1930 this had rose to 3.25 million, and then in March 1933 it had rose to 13 million people being unemployed, that’s ¼ of the American workforce. Confidence had gone! Wages fell – (GNP) Gross National Product – the amount a country produces as a whole. 1929 - $103 billion. 1933 - $53 billion. Weekly wages 1929 - $25. 1933 - $ 17 Agriculture – 1929 – $8.3 billion. 1933- $3.3 billion. Number of Banks in America. 1929 – 25,500. 1933 14,700.

3. The Effects of the Great Depression continued. Thousands of people looking for work. Farmers had their farms repressed by the banks. Soup kitchens set up by churches in every town. Disillusionment and Despair. Suicide rate increased by 14% (1929-1933) Marriages fell 10% (1929-1933) Birth rate fell. Children suffered terribly because of the depression. They had a poor diet, a lack of clothing , poor education , no schools, and many missed their fathers.

4. Hoover’s attempts to deal with the depression. Voluntarism. – Hoover summoned business leaders to the white house and made them pledge to maintain wages and employment. How ever in 1931 General Motors and other corporations, broke these pledges they cut wages and laid off workers. He also called on state and local governments to create public work projects for the unemployed. – however this didn’t happen every where. In Philadelphia the jobless total was 300,000. The city then cut relief payments to $4.23 per week per family, they then stopped this all together in June 1932. Smoothawley Act 1930 helped to protect farmers – However just like with the Forney McCumber Tariff, Other countries retaliated by putting up their tariffs which was devastating for foreign trade. In October 1930 emergency committee for employment – to co-ordinate, voluntary relief aid- but like every thing else Hoover tried to do this failed. The committee spent all its time appealing to state and local agencies to raise money. The was no national system on spending.