The Great Depression

Introduction:

This book describes the events that led to the Great Depression, events of the actual Great Depression and how it was handled from a first person perspective.  Events include the Stock Market Crash of 1929, Hoovervilles, Franklin Roosevelt with his “New Deal” program and Fireside Chats.

Stock Market Crash of 1929

     The day seemed completely normal, clear sky, busy streets, happy faces and a vibe in the air that told me today was going to be another prosperous day for the Stock Market.  Wall Street was busier than ever and the Stock Market was at an all time high.  Herbert Hoover was right, the good times seem to just keep rolling, nothing can bring this down.  I walked down the street and headed to my daily gamble at the market, today I was going to be a billionaire I could feel it.  As soon as I walked into the room the panic hit everybody.  Stocks were falling fast and being sold uncontrollably.  I saw my stocks quickly plummet, I was going to go bankrupt and lose everything if I did not sell my stocks soon.  Pandemonium had hit the room and the news had reached the city already.  All sorts of thoughts crossed my head, the money, my life and everything was going to hit rock bottom.  Instead of selling all my stocks, I headed out to go withdraw my money out the local bank.  Surely, people would panic and clean out all the banks for their money once the news had reached them.  “Sir, you are very lucky, we are about clean out of money from loans.”  A heavy burden lifted from my chest, I was able to withdraw all my savings before the banks failed.  “I am sorry ma’am we are completely out of money, we cannot give you any money” is what the banker told the next woman behind me.  I came home to my wife and she asked me if we were broke now.  I held up the wad of cash, laid it on the table and sat on the couch.  “We were extremely lucky”.  I could tell only bad things were to come after this reckless greed that had consumed our country.  Within a few weeks over half the banks in America had closed down.  Credit, greed, selfishness, it is all a sin in the eyes of God.  He has punished all of us for our wrongdoings.

Hoovervilles

     After losing absolutely everything, me and my family decided to move elsewhere.  We had no money, none of us had a job, nor did we have any food.  All we had were the clothes on our back and the memories in our head.  We were already in debt up to the ceiling in our house.  That debt took that house, took our car and the rest of our dignity.  We were a hard working family and did not even mess with that cursed stock market.  We put so many things on credit because my boss told me we would receive an immense pay raise the following week.  That next week I lost my job and my wife.  She told me, “that wretched credit would go to my grave” so, she drove our car into the house and killed herself.  There was no way I could pay for repairs, not with the debt I was already in.  Thus, me and the kids became part of a Hooverville about 5 miles outside the city.  We took wreckage from our old house on our 5 mile journey and built a small house just for shelter.  Many of the people living in this Hooverville were friendly and offered assistance in building our house.  Many of us would travel together to go to the soup kitchen or bread lines.  It was awkward to go into these facilities which I usually had mocked.  Many of the people who lived the Hooverville were just like me and had kids of their own.  My kids were sixteen and eighteen, they knew how to take care of themselves, but I did not want them to be parted from me yet in this awful time period.  I could also tell they did not want to leave me anyway.  It’s like we keep each other bonded and help the mood of our situation.  Things could be worse, we could be part of that Dust Bowl incident in the Great Plains.  I am sure glad my bread does not have dust on it.  This Great Depression has made me realize how much we take for granted in our everyday life.  If I make it out of this Depression, things probably will not be the same in my household anymore.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and The New Deal

     As a consultant for Mr. President FDR, I am really excited to see his “New Deal” plan go into action.  He won his election in a landslide against Herbert Hoover.  I could talk all day about how awful that President is in some ways, but what is important is FDR’s New Deal program.  He has a very catchy yet remarkably stunning 3 part way of devising his plan.  He calls it the 3-R’s.

R- Relief

R- Recovery

R- Reform

     A basic yet excellent plan, hopefully its effects will actually turn the tide of this depression.  FDR already has many ideas and excellent plans to execute within his first year in office.  He told me a few details on some his ideas:  Civilian Conversation Corps, Agricultural Adjustment Administration, National Industrial Recovery Act, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.  From just reading their titles, you can tell FDR has looked at the Great Depression from all perspectives.  The farmer view concerning the agriculture issues, the bank problems with loans and insuring money for every person.  He has even considered the industry standpoint where the prices are too low for profit in industries.  There is a long journey to the end of the depression, but with FDR I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Fireside Chats

     Culture during the Great Depression was actually nice and enjoyable.  The movies were absolutely spectacular, so many classics.  I am sure they will be remembered in the future.  Art has become a major influence on the culture of our decade.  Many murals, posters, and extravagant pieces of artwork have been spread all around.  Music also has impacted me personally.  I love the music by Woody Guthrie, he has an amazing voice.  I can relate to his songs and I find myself singing to his songs occasionally.  The one thing that stood out to me when I look back at the 1930s was the radio.  I can remember first buying that grand ole’ thing.  I remember adjusting the stations for the kids to listen to Lone Ranger.  I was too afraid for them mess with the channel stations because they loved to break things.  I told them they could only touch the volume.  One night, I was listening to the radio and a voice came on different from anyone I have ever heard before.  It was our President FDR.  He came on the radio and gave us updates about how everything is going.  It really felt like he was talking to me!  I was more excited than the kids to actually to hear the President of the United States talking to us on the radio.  The following day, my co-workers would strike up conversations about what the president had said last night.  This definitely gave him some popularity.  Everybody seemed to fall in love FDR after his broadcast on the radio.  These broadcasts were eventually called “Fireside Chats”.