The Great Depression Study Guide Revision Answers

Causes of the Great Depression → buying on credit, overproduction, farm crisis, the housing market, disparity of wealth, the Stock Market crash.

  1. Buying on credit: People were buying more than they could afford, leading to a huge debt crisis.
  2. Overproduction: In the 1920s, factories were producing more goods than people could buy.
  3. Farm crisis: Farmers were struggling to make ends meet, leading to a decline in the agriculture sector.
  4. Housing market: Many people were unable to pay their mortgages, leading to a huge housing crisis.
  5. Disparity of wealth: The gap between the rich and the poor was widening, and the wealthy were not investing in the economy.
  6. The Stock Market crash: On October 29, 1929, the Stock Market crashed, leading to a huge decline in the economy.

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Problems during the Depression → bank failures, business failures, unemployment, decreasing purchasing power, & the Dust Bowl

  1. Bank failures: Banks were failing, and people lost their savings.
  2. Business failures: Companies were going bankrupt, leading to widespread unemployment.
  3. Unemployment: Millions of people were out of work and struggling to make ends meet.
  4. Decreasing purchasing power: People were unable to buy the things they needed, leading to a decrease in demand for goods and services.
  5. The Dust Bowl: A severe drought in the Great Plains region caused huge dust storms, leading to crop failures and further economic hardship.

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Hoover’s response to the Depression → Hawley-Smoot Tariff, Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), Role of Federal Government, ‘Hoovervilles’

  1. Hawley-Smoot Tariff: Hoover signed a law that raised tariffs on imported goods, which led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries and a decrease in international trade.
  2. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC): Hoover created the RFC to provide loans to banks, railroads, and other businesses.
  3. Role of Federal Government: Hoover believed that the government should play a limited role in the economy and that the economy would recover on its own.
  4. 'Hoovervilles': These were shantytowns that were created by homeless people during the Depression. They were named after President Hoover because people blamed him for the economic crisis.

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FDR in Office → including FDRs Brain Trust, First 100 Days, & Fireside Chats

  1. FDR's Brain Trust: A group of experts who advised FDR on economic issues.
  2. First 100 Days: FDR passed a flurry of legislation during his first 100 days in office to address the economic crisis.
  3. Fireside Chats: FDR used the radio to communicate with the American people and explain his policies.

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New Deal Legislation → FDIC, SEC, SSA, AAA, CCC, WPA

  1. FDIC: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured bank deposits, which helped restore confidence in the banking system.
  2. SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission regulated the stock market to prevent fraud and insider trading.
  3. SSA: The Social Security Act provided a safety net for the elderly and unemployed.
  4. AAA: The Agricultural Adjustment Act paid farmers not to produce crops, which helped stabilize agricultural prices.
  5. CCC: The Civilian Conservation Corps provided jobs for young men to work on conservation and infrastructure projects.
  6. WPA: The Works Progress Administration provided jobs for millions of unemployed workers on public works projects.

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Deficit Spending → and Keynesian Pump Priming

  1. FDR used deficit spending to fund his New Deal programs: Deficit spending involves the government borrowing money to pay for programs and infrastructure, which puts money back into the economy and creates jobs.
  2. Keynesian Pump Priming: This economic theory advocates for the government to increase spending during a recession to stimulate economic growth.

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