Texas History (1914-1950)

Texas During the Great Depression and World War II (1914-1950)

Unit Vocabulary

  • Stock Market: Buying and selling of stocks as shares in companies.
  • Economic Depression: A period characterized by economic decline, high unemployment, high prices, and lack of economic production.
  • Rationing: Practice of distributing limited amounts of food and supplies, often during wartime.
  • Internment: Confinement of individuals, often during wartime.
Related Vocabulary
  • Fascism
  • Dust Bowl
  • Drought
  • Home front
  • Rural
  • Urban
  • Stocks/Shares
  • Import/Export

The United States Enters WWI

  • In 1914, Europe engaged in war: France, Great Britain, Russia vs. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
  • The U.S. remained neutral; however, the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 heightened tensions.
  • By 1917, further provocation occurred with German submarine attacks on American ships.
  • The Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted, revealing Germany's intentions to ally with Mexico against the U.S., causing public outrage.

Mobilizing Texas

  • Texas played a key role in training soldiers during WWI with numerous training camps (Fort Worth, Waco, etc.).
  • The Thirty-sixth and Ninetieth Divisions were prominent, with over 200,000 Texans serving.
  • Notable contributions from African Americans and Mexican Americans, with significant military service despite widespread discrimination.

Changing Lifestyles in the 1920s

  • Urbanization: More people began living in cities than rural areas.
  • Mass production facilitated affordable consumer goods; chain stores expanded.
  • Radio and cinema gained popularity; jazz music thrived.
  • Women’s right to vote (19th amendment) led to increased activism.

The Great Depression Begins

  • Economic growth post-WWI led to speculative stock investments.
  • October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday): The stock market crash precipitated a decade of distress.
  • Factories closed, unemployment soared, and farm prices plummeted, causing widespread hardship.

Hoover’s Response

  • President Hoover believed local governments and charities should address the crisis, minimizing federal intervention.
  • He underestimated the severity and duration of the Great Depression.

A Boom in Oil, a Bust in Cotton

  • The discovery of oil in East Texas (1930) caused a price drop due to oversupply.
  • Cotton prices plummeted as the 1930s progressed, leading many farmers into bankruptcy.
  • The Dust Bowl exacerbated conditions; severe drought and mismanagement led to ecological devastation.

Life in Texas During Early 1930s

  • Communities sought relief measures; many migrants, including Mexican Americans, left Texas seeking work.
  • Discrimination meant African Americans faced disproportionately high unemployment rates.

The New Deal

  • FDR’s New Deal aimed at relief, recovery, and reform to address the Depression's effects.
  • Implementation of various agencies helped Texans find work and improve conditions but did not fully end the Depression.
Major Programs
  • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): Employed young men in environmental projects.
  • Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA): Aimed to raise crop prices by reducing supply.
  • National Youth Administration (NYA): Hired high school and college students for various jobs.

World War II

  • The Great Depression influenced war readiness; Texans served prominently in WWII.
  • The Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, led the U.S. to join the Allies.
  • Significant contributions from Texas, including military training camps and vital industry support.
Texan Contributions
  • Over 750,000 Texans served; notable figures included Doris Miller and Audie Murphy.
  • Women stepped up in non-combat roles, with thousands serving and contributing to the war effort.

Social Changes During the War

  • Rationing and defense efforts reshaped daily life.
  • The war also prompted shifts in employment, with women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers.
  • Although discrimination persisted, new opportunities for women and minorities emerged.

Conclusion

  • The decades encompassing the Great Depression and WWII marked a transformative period for Texas, characterized by economic hardship, social change, and significant contributions to national efforts.