Historical context

• When did the Great Depression begin?

  October 24th, 1929
• What is the nickname for the day the stock market crashed?

  Black Thursday
• What was the percentage drop in wage income for workers from 1929 to 1933?

  Almost 43%
• What happened to farm prices during the Great Depression?

  They fell drastically
• What percentage of the workforce was unemployed at the height of the Depression in 1933?

  25%
• How many people were unemployed in 1933?

  12,830,000 people
• How many banks went out of business from 1929 to 1932?

  5,000 banks
• What were shanty towns during the Great Depression called?

  Hoovervilles
• How did the Great Depression affect black people compared to white people?

  They suffered as badly or worse
• Where did many black people migrate to during the Great Depression?

  Big cities like Chicago and New York
• What was the living condition for black people in the cities during the Great Depression?

  Terrible living conditions
• Why was it harder for black men to find jobs than white migrant workers?

  Due to racism
• What were black people often segregated from?

  White people
• What did the Jim Crow Laws enforce?

  Segregation between races
• What did the Ku Klux Klan do to black people?

  Carried out lynchings
• How many people were lynched in Georgia in 1924-25?

  135 people
• Why were KKK members seldom punished?

  Many were policemen or judges
• When was the NAACP established?

  1909
• What were the objectives of the NAACP?

  End segregation and gain voting rights
• How did the New Deal affect black people?

  Helped some but discriminated against others
• How many black people worked for the government by 1940?

  100 black people
• Migrant workers


  Many people, including those from Oklahoma and Texas, migrated to California during the Great Depression in search of work, but often found themselves exploited and mistreated by landowners and ranchers.
• Dust Bowl


  A period of severe dust storms and drought that affected the Great Plains region of the United States during the 1930s, leading to crop failures and the loss of livelihoods for many farmers.
• Racial tensions


  Racial tensions were high in the United States during the 1930s, particularly in the South, with African Americans facing discrimination, segregation, and violence.
• The impact on small towns

  The Great Depression had a devastating impact on small towns like Soledad, leading to economic decline and community cohesion breakdown.
• The role of labor unions

  Labor unions played an important role in advocating for workers' rights and better working conditions during the Great Depression, but many workers remained vulnerable to exploitation due to lack of unionization.
• Rural poverty and isolation

  A common experience for many people in rural areas, characterized by poverty, isolation, and a lack of economic opportunities.
• The Dust Bowl and migration

  A period of severe dust storms and drought that affected the Great Plains region of the United States, forcing farmers and ranchers to leave their homes and migrate to California in search of work.
• The 1930s economy


  A time of economic crisis in the United States, characterized by widespread unemployment, poverty, and instability in industries such as agriculture.
• The demise of the American Dream

  The 1930s were a time of widespread disillusionment with the American Dream, which had promised upward mobility and prosperity to anyone willing to work hard enough, but was not accessible to everyone due to poverty, unemployment, and exploitation.
• The Glass Ceiling


  A metaphor for the invisible barriers preventing women from advancing in their careers.
• Patriarchal Dominance


  The belief that men have a natural right to dominate and control women.
• Chauvinism and Sexism


  Prejudiced attitudes and beliefs devaluing the abilities and worth of women.
• Ageism


  A form of discrimination or prejudice based on age, often targeting the elderly.
• Elderly Poverty


  The prevalence of poverty among the elderly during the Great Depression, often due to limited job opportunities and pension options.
• Mental Health


  The mental well-being of elderly individuals, often affected by stress, loneliness, and isolation.
• Segregation


  The practice of separating people with disabilities from the rest of society, often through institutionalization or isolation.
• Institutionalization


  The practice of placing people with disabilities in large institutions, such as mental hospitals or asylums, often for extended periods.
• Gender Roles and Stereotypes


  The societal expectations and limitations placed on women and their roles in society, often based on gender stereotypes.
• Reproductive Rights


  The social, economic, and political opportunities and constraints available to women in relation to their reproductive health and choices.