We once again went over our assigned blog topics.
Dust Bowl 1935-1940
"Black Blizzards"
Lasted about as long as the Great Depression
Settled into Atlantic Ocean and did affect northern areas
Ended up with sand drifts as well
Farmers blowed up prairie which had never been farmed before
Great Plains area was affected
Great American Desert had hard ground and dry
Over-farming where took out grasses and no roots to hold the dirt
Dirt everywhere with high winds and lack of rain causes large dust storms
Wet towels and blankets to keep out of houses
Animals died
FSA sent people out to take pictures
Farmers lost jobs so moved to California from Oklahoma or other areas. Knowen as the "Okies"
Men in the Streets
A lot of people lost jobs and were unemployed
Men were supposed to provide for family
Left for days at a time to find job
Abandoned family because ashamed that they could not provide for them
Would do basically anything for a job
Cities could give out money to the unemployed.. $2.39 per week in New York. THis was the direct relief benefits
One of the largest transient movements.. over 300,000 people.. hoboes moving etc.
Women Struggle to Survive
Women had to take control because men lost jobs
Went out and looked for jobs
Managed budgets so that they weren't spending more money than needed
Took to sewing and canning.. etc.
Women were discriminated against in the work force.. why should that woman have a job when men did not have a job
Women had to manage the home and men provided the money
Children Suffering Hardships
More imaginative for playing.. made stuff
Teens left home because they felt that were more of a burden to their family than a positive
25,000 died.. adventurous but dangerous too
250,000 homeless children
Schools closed down because had no funds or shortened the school year
Kids got jobs instead of school
Then child labor laws were passed and they could no longer work
"Wild Boys" traveled country on trains
Suicide rates went up in teh '30s
Hospitals didn't have money so they closed.. kids had malnutrition and not proper care. rickets disease where bones were softened
Hoover's Background
Herbert Clark Hoover
Only president from Iowa.. Westbranch
Father was a blacksmith
Parents died close together.. 9 years old when he became an orphan
Attended night school to learn Math, Science, English
Stanford University-one of the first classes
Quaker
Trained engineer
No military records as a soldier
Elected in 1928.. Republican votes
1929 couldn't do anything about Great Depression so went down as one of the worst presidents in history
Humanitarian.. ironic b/c people criticize because he didn't want to help but that's not really true
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