THE GREAT DEPRESSION

• The 1920’s in the United States were a time of success like never before. People lived life loudly and on the edge. America’s wealthiest often threw parties that lasted for weeks. The 18th amendment, known as Prohibition, went into effect in 1920, making the sale and production of alcohol illegal. Creative party hosts found ways around the rules, often involving secret tunnels and fast-speed police chases in the dark of night. This was the time of organized crime and the rise of gangsters. Prohibition was not repealed, or taken back, until the 21st amendment was passed in 1933

• The growth of business and abundant jobs of the 20’s suddenly took a turn for the worse when the stock market failed in 1929. The stock market is an economic system that allows people to buy and sell shares of companies. Shares, or part ownership in businesses, became almost worthless, sending the entire country into very hard economic times. When an area goes through a time of very little business activity, it is called a depression. The economic struggle of the stock market crash hit the nation so hard, that the depression it caused was more severe than had ever been seen. This time period became known as The Great Depression.
•  During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs, and even their farms and homes. People could not feed their families. Poverty, disease, and starvation affected most of the nation. There was a severe drought at the same time in the middle United States. The lack of rain made the ground so dry it turned to dust. Huge dust storms buried farms and houses. People got sick and some even died from breathing in the dust. The middle states became known as the Dust Bowl. Hundreds of people moved west in search of work and better lives during this time. The Great Depression finally came to an end when the United States entered World War II in 1941. Many new jobs were created as war supplies, like aircraft and ships, were needed to support the war effort.

• Since people moved to where jobs were available in the west,the population grew quickly.Because the war was going on, it was hard to get enough of some supplies .Inflation, the raising of prices, made goods expensive. The government had to ration some items, like butter and gas oline, because there was not enough for  everyone.Though somethings were difficult, people looked back on the days of the Great Depression, and were grateful to have the things that they had. Things were not perfect, but the times were better than before.

Name:__________________________________

Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find or confirm your answers.

1)   Why do you think the 18th amendment, to outlaw alcohol, was not successful?

   2)   Imagine living on a farm at the time of a huge dust storm. Would you stay, or would you move west? Why?

    3)   What was one effect of so many people moving west?

      4)   Why do you think inflation was a problem during the World War II?

    5)   Based on the context of the last paragraph, what does the word ration mean?