History Chapter 25

The Great Depression

The Great Depression

A severe economic downturn in the United States characterized by the stock market crash, widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic hardship.

Unbalanced economy

An economic condition where certain sectors, like farming, textiles, lumber, mining, and railroads, experience decline while others struggle, leading to economic instability.

Credit Crisis

A situation during the Great Depression where banks faced significant economic problems, leading to closures and financial difficulties for individuals, such as farmers defaulting on loans.

Hoovervilles

Makeshift shantytowns where people who lost their homes during the Great Depression lived, often constructed from cardboard boxes and other scrap materials.

FDR

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States during the Great Depression, who implemented the New Deal programs to address the economic crisis and provide relief to the American people.

Fireside Chats

Informal radio broadcasts by FDR to communicate directly with the American public, explaining his policies and actions to restore confidence during the Great Depression.

New Deal

A series of programs and reforms introduced by FDR to combat the effects of the Great Depression, including initiatives like FERA, CCC, AAA, FDIC, and TVA.

FERA

Federal Emergency Relief Administration, a New Deal program that provided relief to the unemployed and needy during the Great Depression.

CCC

Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program that offered jobs to young men for conservation work like planting trees and building bridges.

AAA

Agricultural Adjustment Administration, a New Deal program that paid farmers to reduce crop production to stabilize agricultural prices during the Great Depression.

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,Insured savings accounts in banks approved by the government

TVA

Tennessee Valley Authority, Built dams to provide cheap electric power to seven Southern states; set up schools and health centers

What were three ways people used entertainment during the Great Depression?

1. Radio - Listening to different radio channels that entertained you was a way to forget about things. Daytime dramas such as soap operas also popularized.

2. Movies - A form of entertainment that helped immerse viewers into a whole different world.

3. Writing and Painting - Creating your own escape with your imagination helped.