The Great Depression

This book is based upon The Great Depression era. These topics are included: The Stock Market Crash of 1929, The Dust Bowl, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and The Bonus Army March. This book will include pictures and information of the Great Depression.

This book will summarize the tragic events that took place during this era. It will also give you a view from a first person perspective. You will be able to see what the people went through and feel how they felt. I say this because it will give you a sense of imagery that will make it seem so surreal. The events in this book are fully detailed.

During the 1920s life seemed to be going good until the stock market crash that took place in 1929. I thought this lovely feeling in life would last forever. When the stock market crashed I lost everything. By everything, I mean everything. This included: all of my money, my house, my job, and anything I ever worked for. Losing everything made me feel lost in this world. I didn’t know what to do. I was so used to living large and now I don’t even have enough money to last me to the next month. Banks had failed and the unemployment rate had skyrocketed.

Breadlines and soup kitchens were being abundantly filled. I was one of those who stood in line and waited to be fed. It is still hard to believe that all of the luxury things that I had are now gone. No more waking up to breakfast in bed, no more going to work when I feel like it, no more telling my maid to make up my bed, no more receiving a paycheck. I am now nearly broke. All that I have left is the $300 dollars that I had stashed up under my mattress. God, how I wish I would’ve stashed more, but who would’ve thought the stock market would crash?

Living in Texas during the 1940s was not a blast. Following the stock market crash the dust bowl came in and made things worse. There was a drought, overgrazing, and lack of crop rotation. Because of this when the winds picked up it picked up loose soil with it. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was sitting in the house and then all of a sudden everything went black. I then walked over to the window and I notice the wind was picking up. The wind also picked up any little debri in its path . I was terrified and so was my children, but all we could do was pray for the end of it. I thought it was just a little storm that would go away, but it didn’t. It happened numerous times. It started to invade homes. Things were so bad that women were starting to commit suicide because they could no longer take it. Children were being infected by dust pneumonia. Plenty died. The government then stepped in and decided to set up a program to help us in the Great Plains. My husband and other farmers were told not to overgraze and they were also paid not to plant.

In 1932, President Herbert Hoover ran for re-election against New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt promised a “new deal” for America. The new deal basically focused on relief, recovery, and reform. Relief is going to help out with basic necessities in life, Recovery is going to promote growth in the American colony, and Reform is going to ensure that the Great Depression will never happen again! Roosevelt strongly believed that the government should step up and help out the Americans.

Me, as an American during these hard times felt as if we needed a change and some improvement. I felt as if Roosevelt would be the one to put and end to all of our problems. Sure enough when he won the presidential election he did everything in his power to make sure America recovered. He was more than a president, he was like a friend or a go-to person. Around this time the radios were a big part of the American lifestyle and Roosevelt knew this. He used this form of technology to send out “fireside chats”. Fireside chats were used to send out messages to the public. Roosevelt made it very clear that we were not in it alone. He was our biggest supporter and because of this Roosevelt became very popular and gained a lot of public support for his programs.

Fighting in World War 1 was not exactly a complete breeze. This fight originally had nothing to do with the United States, but we soon were involved. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany. He said Germany violated its pledge to suspend unrestricted warfare. On December 7, 1917, the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary. Being successfully equipped, we won and beat Germany. After the war was over we all were left without jobs or any sort of income.

In 1924, Congress passed a bill that would award World War 1 veterans bonuses. The bonuses were to be available in 1945. But, some of the veterans felt like they should receive early. I felt this way too, because I was very close to being broke. To remind you this took place after the Great Depression. So, every one was very down at this point. Many of us gathered around the Capital. This march was led by former Army Sergeant Walter Waters. On July 28, 1932 President Hoover had sent an order for us to leave the government property. We faced off with the police. Things got brutal quickly. There was knives, guns, blood, and bodies laying everywhere. Only 2 veterans were killed and over 1,000 were injured. The troops were led to end the protest by General Douglas MacArthur. We all were driven out and they burned the rest of our belongings that were left behind.