By the 1930s money was scarce because of the depression, so people did what they could to make their lives happy. Movies were hot, parlor games and board games were popular. People gathered around radios to listen to the Yankees. Young people danced to the big bands. Franklin Roosevelt influenced Americans with his Fireside Chats. The golden age of the mystery novel continued as people escaped into books, reading writers like Agatha Christie, Dashielle Hammett, and Raymond Chandler.
Population: 123,188,000 in 48 states Life Expectancy: Male, 58.1; Female, 61.6 Average salary: $1,368 Unemployment rises to 25% Car Sales: 2,787,400 Lynchings: 21
The Great Depression was the worst and most traumatic economic downturn in the history of the world. It began in the United States on "Black Tuesday," October 29, 1929. The Great Depression was a slow collapse, ending in March of 1933. At this point, the Dow Jones closed at 41.22. Causes of the Great Depression are debated, but one of the main reasons was overproduction and under consumption. Because of the Industrial Revolution and the rise in manufacturing abilities, industries were able to turn out record amounts of machines and various other products, but there was not enough demand for them. Because of the lack of sales, companies could not pay off loans, which led to foreclosure. Banks, not receiving their loans back began to collapse. Over the three-year period, industries and banks completely collapsed. People's savings in the banks disappeared, as well as their jobs. The worldwide effects were monumental.
The word "depression" really sums up the attitude of many Americans during this period. The American Dream was gone. In place of hope was anxiety and despair. People questioned the system of government and economics that existed - democracy and capitalism. The communist party began to gain speed as did a backlash, the "Red Scare." Survival became the keyword of society. People sought only to find food. Desperate countries, such as Germany, Italy, and Spain, turned to nationalistic and fascist nations, setting the scene for WWII and the end of the Great Depression.
Education
The 1930's were a perilous time for public education. With cash money in short supply parents were unable to provide their children with the necessary clothes, supplies, and textbooks (which were not furnished in some states) to attend school. Taxes, especially in rural areas, went unpaid. With the loss of revenue, school boards were forced to try numerous strategies to keep their districts operating. School terms were shortened. Teachers' salaries were cut. One new teacher was paid $40 a month for a five month school year - and was very glad for the job! When a rural county in Arkansas was forced to charge tuition one year in order to keep the schools open, some children were forced to drop out for that year. One farmer was able to barter wood to fuel the classrooms' potbellied stoves for his four children's tuition, thus enabling them to continue their education.
The famous Dick and Jane books that taught millions of children to read were first published in 1931. These primers introduced the students to reading with only one new word per page and a limited vocabulary per book. All who learned to read with these books still recall the "Look. See Dick. See Dick run."
Literature
Many of the greatest American authors worked during 1930's. These include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemmingway, Dr. Seuss, and John Steinbeck. Some of the literature described life of the Great Depression, such as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. A lot of literature fought against the racisms of the times. Other important books set in this time were John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The authors of this time sought to re-evaluate the era that caused the terrible depression and economic downturn.
Science and Technology
Pure scientific research suffered from the lack of funding. Nevertheless, in physics ground breaking experiments in atom smashing were being conducted at such institutions as Columbia University and the California Institute of Technology. Albert Einstein immigrated to the United States in 1933 and became a professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University. From here in 1939 he wrote his famous letter to President Roosevelt recommending the development of the atomic bomb. In the field of astronomy the ninth major planet, Pluto, was discovered in 1930.
Industrial research led to better refrigeration for foods, a variety of products made from synthetic materials such as plexiglass, nylon, and cellophane, and improved manufacturing techniques such as polymerization, which increased production of gasoline by nine million gallons a year. In 1938 American physicist Chester F. Carlson made the first copy by an electrostatic process called xerography.
Life Expectancy: Male, 58.1; Female, 61.6
Average salary: $1,368
Unemployment rises to 25%
Car Sales: 2,787,400
Lynchings: 21
Table of Contents
Great Depression
The word "depression" really sums up the attitude of many Americans during this period. The American Dream was gone. In place of hope was anxiety and despair. People questioned the system of government and economics that existed - democracy and capitalism. The communist party began to gain speed as did a backlash, the "Red Scare." Survival became the keyword of society. People sought only to find food. Desperate countries, such as Germany, Italy, and Spain, turned to nationalistic and fascist nations, setting the scene for WWII and the end of the Great Depression.Education
The famous Dick and Jane books that taught millions of children to read were first published in 1931. These primers introduced the students to reading with only one new word per page and a limited vocabulary per book. All who learned to read with these books still recall the "Look. See Dick. See Dick run."
Literature
Science and Technology
Pure scientific research suffered from the lack of funding. Nevertheless, in physics ground breaking experiments in atom smashing were being conducted at such institutions as Columbia University and the California Institute of Technology. Albert Einstein immigrated to the United States in 1933 and became a professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University. From here in 1939 he wrote his famous letter to President Roosevelt recommending the development of the atomic bomb. In the field of astronomy the ninth major planet, Pluto, was discovered in 1930.
Industrial research led to better refrigeration for foods, a variety of products made from synthetic materials such as plexiglass, nylon, and cellophane, and improved manufacturing techniques such as polymerization, which increased production of gasoline by nine million gallons a year. In 1938 American physicist Chester F. Carlson made the first copy by an electrostatic process called xerography.