Key Concepts from the Great Depression Lecture

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the Great Depression as discussed in the lecture.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that took place during the 1930s, characterized by extreme unemployment and a decline in industrial production.

Speculation

The practice of buying stocks at great risk with the hope of reselling them at a profit; a major cause of the Great Depression.

Hoovervilles

Makeshift communities of homeless people that arose during the Great Depression, named derisively after President Herbert Hoover.

Dust Bowl

A severe drought and series of dust storms that severely damaged agriculture in the 1930s, worsening the Great Depression.

Public Works Administration (PWA)

A New Deal agency that provided jobs through the construction of public works projects, aimed at stimulating the economy.

Social Security Act

Legislation enacted in 1935 that established a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid to the disabled and families with dependent children.

Fireside Chat

Radio addresses given by FDR to the American public in which he communicated directly and reassuringly about his policies.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies implemented by FDR aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform in response to the Great Depression.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A New Deal program that provided jobs for young men in environmental conservation projects.

Huey Long

A populist politician from Louisiana who was a significant threat to FDR, advocating for wealth redistribution before his assassination.

The Wagner Act

Legislation passed in 1935 that protected the rights of workers to form unions and engage in collective bargaining.

Eleanor Roosevelt

The wife of FDR and a prominent political figure, she played a significant role as an advisor and advocate for social causes.

Hoover Dam

A concrete dam built during the Great Depression, symbolizing vast federal construction efforts and providing jobs and electricity.

Marian Anderson

An African-American singer who performed at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, highlighting issues of race and equality.

Amelia Earhart

A pioneering aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Orson Welles

A filmmaker and actor known for his innovative storytelling and a famous radio broadcast that caused public panic.

Hindenburg Disaster

The catastrophic fire of the German airship Hindenburg in 1937, which symbolized both technological innovation and its failures.