US History Study Guide: The Great Depression Vocabulary

Modern U.S. History - Mr. McGuire

Bull Market

The stock market rapidly increasing; Buying much stock

Margin

Investments, borrowed money to buy stocks

-crash, stock had to pay, but for nothing.

Bank Run

Banks became bankrupt

-no regulation; loans/broken because everybody needed a loan.

-bank fail = no money

Black Tuesday

Stock market crash - October 29, 1929

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Taxation; collapse with global trade.

Hobos

Traveling homeless person

Dust Bowl

Sandstorm of dirt-made more miserable

Bonus Army

American veterans after WW1- $1000 bonus pay after 1945- if they were still alive; the veterans wanted wanted the money before then

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

Government agency established by Herbert Hoover; loaned money to banks, businesses

Bank Holiday

FDR executive order (every bank is closed for days) check for reserves/money

Fireside Chats

FDR communication with American people; radio addressments; promotes program/calming the public

New Deal

FDR name to fight depression.

Ex. Dealing with problems- hiring/careers

Soap Opera

Mellow dramas, started out as radios; entertainment during the depression

Alfred E. Smith

1st Catholic elected for president; ran against Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover

President, smart, engineer, helped prevent famine.

Walt Disney

Creation of Mickey Mouse; known worldwide; animation was huge

Public Works

Stuff the government people to build or do.

Foreclosed

Lose homes, family farms; they can’t pay

Relief

Welfare, money, or food (direct aid)

-distribution (ex. Soup kitchen)

John Steinback

Most important writer in the 1930’s

-“Grapes of Wrath”

-Chronicle of the depression yet in fiction