The Great Depression

Bank Failures

Today is December 29, 1929. The year is coming to an end and it has been exactly two months since the Stock Market crashed on October 29. Since the Stock Market crashed almost six hundred banks have closed nation wide. Everyone, including myself, have stopped spending money because we can no longer afford it. Meaning the rate of consumer spending has decrease, leading some businesses to already close.

I have had to withdraw all of my savings for my banking account just to support my family. I am not the only person that has had to do so, everyone in my family and all my acquaintances have withdrew their money from the bank. Withdrawals are what’s causing the banks to have to close. Hopefully in the future banks will be able to reopen and will be able to support my family without having to worry.

http://www.history.com/topics/bank-run

The Dust Bowl

Today is April 10, 1935 I feel like the dust is never ending. No matter how much I clean the house it seems to never go away. Which I guess is acceptable considering there is a dust storm everyday. If it weren’t for years of overgrazing, the drought, and high winds these dust storms would have never existed. At the beginning of the depression us farmers had one advantage over the people in the cites, we could grow our own food. Now we can’t do much of anything because of all the dust.

My children are beginning to get sick with dust pneumonia and there is no way for us to get them to the doctor in time. Reason being, the dust storms are starting to get stronger and stronger. We are going to have to wait it out and hope that they get better. I have a bad feeling that we haven’t seen the worst of theses dust storms and their will be many more to come. I just hope and pray and the next few days it will rain to get rid of some of the dust so that my children can get better and have a childhood without having to worry about the dust.

http://www.history.com/topics/dust-bowl

Riding the Rails

Today is April 17, 1935. I have been gone from my family for a total of five months now, riding the rails trying to find work. It is very hard being away from my family, but I could not cope with not being able to provide for my wife and three children.

Riding the rails hasn’t been all that bad. I have made many new friends that I now would consider to be family. I have also learned many new trades that when I finally decide to go back home, if I ever do, will help my family out tremendously.  I have also been able to get some jobs, not a steady one, but I have been able to make some money. What little money I do make, I keep half and send the other half back to my wife.

Even though I am not at home with my kids I still want to see them grow up and be apart of their lives. However, I don’t know if I could go back and be happy. Knowing that I am the reason that my kids can’s have normal lives because I don’t have a job. I believe for now I am just going to continue riding the rails and sending them money every chance I get. Maybe one day I will be able to be with them again.

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_07.html

Fire Side Chats

Today is Sunday June 7, 1933. My family and I are waiting by the radio to listen to President Roosevelt’s weekly fireside chat over the radio. Each week FDR address the people of the United States, giving us hope that these hard times will soon be over.

If it weren’t for President Roosevelt’s fireside chats each week I don’t know what I would do. He is so encouraging and helpful that he gives my hope. He makes me feel as if I were sitting beside hi, having a simple conversation about our daily struggles that we both face.

President Roosevelt’s fireside chats have gained him a lot of popularity and support for his programs. Although the popularity and the support but the most important thing is President Roosevelt gives us all hope that good times are just around the corner.

http://www.history.com/topics/fireside-chats