Social Studies 6.02 and 6.03

Troubled Times

6.02

Think about it...

This is part of a memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the past presidents of the United States. These words were taken from a speech he gave. The upper text says, "I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished." What was the President talking about?

The Great Depression

When President Roosevelt spoke these words, he was speaking about the poverty millions of Americans were experiencing during the Great Depression. This was a period of economic hardship that started in the United States in 1929.

Causes of the Great Depression:

• the stock market crash of 1929

• overuse of installment plans

• the Dust Bowl of the 1930s

Stock Market Crash

The stock market had been growing rapidly in the 1920s. People invested money by buying shares. They would keep their shares for a time, in hopes of selling them for more money than they paid for them. When the values of shares began to fall, people began trying to sell all their shares at once. This caused the market to crash. Many people lost their life savings.

Multiple Choice

People made a lot of money when the Stock Market crashed.

• True

• False

Installment Plans

Before installment plans, people would save money to make a big purchase. The business would get the money for the good or service right away. Installment plans meant that businesses would receive payment a little at a time. This worked well when people could make the payments. Many families used installment plans to buy many items and built up debt. When they lost their jobs and money, they could not make payments.

Multiple Choice

Installment plans meant that people...

• paid all the money at once

• paid a little bit at a time

• paid with a credit card

• wrote an IOU

Dust Bowl

The Great Plains region suffered greatly from the Dust Bowl. This severe drought caused crops to die. This region was a major supplier of wheat, which is important in many food items, like bread. Since farmers couldn't grow and sell crops, they lost their farms.

Once the crops died, there was nothing to hold the soil in place. Wind picked up the soil and caused dust storms.

Multiple Choice

The Dust Bowl took place in...

• New York City

• The Great Plain region

• California

• The deep south

The Great Depression

The Great Depression affected people across the country. Millions were hungry, poor, and out of work. Let's learn more about the effects of the Great Depression.

Effects of the Depression

• Many companies went out of business and people lost their jobs.

• Migrants traveled across the country looking for work. Some found work on farms, but the pay was very low.

• Men lined up for hours for the possibility of a day’s work. 

Multiple Choice

Many people lost their jobs during the Great Depression.

• True

• False

More Effects of the Depression

• People lost their homes because they had no money to pay for them. Some lived in tents close to other families.

• Food was difficult to afford because people had less money.

• Thousands of people across the country lined up at soup kitchens or in bread lines for a meal.

FDR Elected

In 1932, people voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt, or FDR, as president because he had promised to help the country out of this depression. He presented the nation with a plan called the New Deal. This plan created many programs to help produce jobs and improve the economy.

*Video on 6.02 Slide 3 (last circle)

Multiple Choice

FDR's new plan was called...

• The Great Deal

• The New Deal

• The Okay Deal

• The Best Deal

FUN FACT!

Many U.S. presidents served for 8 years. But one president served longer than that. Can you guess who it was?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or as many people liked to call him, FDR, was elected FOUR times in a row!

Migrants

This family is leaving their home to find work in another state. During the Great Depression, thousands of families moved across the country to look for work. They were called migrant families. The Great Depression was a period of economic hardship that affected millions of people across the country.

Another War

6.03

FUN FACT!

Prior to World War II, bicycles in the United States were very heavy? American soldiers discovered lighter, multi-speed bicycles in Europe. After the war, these kinds of bicycles became popular in the U.S.

Going to War

Many European countries struggled with war debt after World War I. These conditions, along with the Great Depression, started another war.

Germany

Germany was damaged by World War I. It was also forced to pay a large amount of money to other countries because of the war. Payment for war damages caused an economic crisis in Germany.

Economic Crisis

Most of the other countries in Europe also struggled with economic crisis. New leaders rose in Italy, Russia, and Germany. They believed that the government should control everything in a country. Adolf Hitler became the dictator of Germany.

Multiple Choice

Most European countries were struggling with economic crisis.

• True

• False

Beginning of War

Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Then Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. Soon, other European countries formed alliances with one side or the other. This was the beginning of World War II.

Multiple Choice

Great Britain and France declared war on...

• The United States

• Germany

• Japan

• Canada

Who was involved?

The two sides of this war were called the Allies and the Axis Powers.

The United States

The United States didn't fight in World War II right away. It was still suffering from the Great Depression. Most of the American people didn't want to join the war. The government chose to help the Allies. It sent them weapons and resources.

Multiple Choice

The United States fought with the...

• Allies

• Axis Powers

IT'S WAR!

In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This made most Americans change their minds. The United States officially joined World War II.

Impacts

World War II lasted six years, between 1939 and 1945. It caused the death of about 50 million people, including civilians and military personnel. It involved almost every part of the world.

Multiple Choice

How long did WWII last?

• 5 years

• 6 years

• 7 years

• 10 years

Equipment

The United States produced and supplied half of the military equipment to the Allied forces in Europe. This included planes, tanks, guns, and trucks. They also sent equipment to China who was fighting Japan.

On the homefront

At home, people rationed their food. This means they limited how much each person got. They planted victory gardens to increase food production at home. They had blackouts, turning off their lights at night, to prevent the enemy from targeting towns and cities

Pearl Harbor

The bombing of Pearl Harbor was startling.

Fears led to prejudice against German and Japanese Americans. Schools had air raid drills. These drills were practice for what to do if they came under attack. 

The war also increased patriotism in the United States. Patriotism is the feeling of support that people have for their nation. 

Multiple Choice

The bombing of Pearl Harbor startled the United States.

• True

• False

Japanese Americans

The government forced Japanese Americans to live in special camps in the United States during the war, like the one pictured. Japanese American families had to sell their homes, businesses, and most of what they owned. The government then allowed them to return home after the war.

Multiple Select

Japanese Americans were forced to _______, _______, and _______ after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (choose 3)

• quit their jobs

• sell their homes

• move back to Japan

• move into camps

Sum it up

Many countries were struggling economically in the 1930s. This led to World War II. This war involved almost every part of the world. It lasted six years and caused the death of about 50 million people. World War II brought an end to the Great Depression and brought economic stability to the United States.

Multiple Choice

How many people died in WWII?

• 10 million

• 20 million

• 40 million

• 50 million