The+Great+Depression

**The Wall Street Crash**
Most people remember the Great Depression as a decade where people lost their jobs and often became destitute, without homes or savings. As a consequence of this 10 year period, from 1929 to 1939, some governments created 'make work' projects, which paid little, but at least provided some employment. People, as a result, often felt that governments should provide more, in terms of benefits, to aid their citizens in times of need. This is why, today, we have health, pension and unemployment benefits, paid for by taxes. During the 1930s, people turned to extremist governments, on both the left and the right, to help solve some of the problems created as a result of the Wall Street Crash. media type="custom" key="25520586" Task 1: Decide upon the best reasons for the start of the Great Depression

As a consequence of the Wall Street Crash and the drought affecting prices of grain in the United States, their economy suffered a severe economic downturn. The American government was unprepared, and under President Hoover, apparently unwilling to aid the people in their time of need. This led to people questioning the Republican government's lack of policies, as they practiced 'laissez faire' economic recovery. Lots of photographs from this time period exist which tell the story of the hardships faced by the average American, as a consequence of this economic depression. Task 2: Use the following source analysis exercise to help you appreciate the situation In addition to the Stock Market Crash, the southern states experienced severe drought, which led to a 'dust bowl' in the state of Oklahoma, in particular. As a consequence, people were forced to leave their farms, as they could not make payments to the banks. These 'Okies' as they were referred to, would travel across the country in search of work, often without much success. Various historians have analyzed the reasons for the Great Depression and how governments could have responded. Task 3: Analyze the various sources in order to be able to appreciate the historiography of this era

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