To understand the book, the first thing we need to do is understand why people were so poor and what was happening in America. To do this, we will start by going to the website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/
When you go to this page, look on the left. Click on "People and Events." Read the first two articles under events:
- The Great Depression
- The Drought
Think about these questions:
- What happened during the Depression?
- Why did the Depression happen?
- What did the presidents do to respond to these problems?
- Why was the drought so terrible for farmers?
- How did people cause the problems of the drought?
- How did government try to solve these problems?
Now, please post a response to these articles. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS (OR ANY!). THESE ARE JUST TO GET YOU THINKING. The main points of your response should be to:
a. Connect the article to "Out of the Dust"
b. Connect the article to today
c. Connect the article to your personal life.
You may do any or all of these, as long as you do your part well!
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38 comments:
The Great Depression happened because people bought houses and stocks on credit, everyone wanted to make big money. Everyone's debt grew higher and higher, soon, the stock market crashed, and this was the start of the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, a lot of banks and businesses closed, the unemployeement rate was higher than ever.(1/4 of American didn't have a job) Although the economy was terrible, prisident Hoover didn't take it seriously, this made the situation worse. Thankfully, president Roosevelt took action immediately, and helped America get though this terrible disaster.
I think the economy crisis lately is pretty similar to the Great Depression. Experts say that because a lot of people over invested on credit, so everyone's personal debt are rising, this caused the stock market all over the world to drop. Which brings about the economy crisis. A lot of people lost a lot of money, a lot of banks and bisinesses failed, some countries are almost broke!(such as: Iceland and Argentina) This is very terrifying, I hope we wouldn't experience the Great Depression again.
Chelsea
The Great Depression was a terrible economic depression happened in the year of 1929 to the early 1940s. It happened at the time when people were making more and more money and profit, and bought houses, automobiles, and stocks on credit. Because almost everything was bought on credit, everyone's debt had grown higher than ever. Soon the stock market crashed and became the start of the Great Depression. In this period of time many banks and businesses closed and a lot of people lost their jobs and couldn't make a living. President Hoover had underestimated the crisis and made the whole country in an even worse situation. But then came President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who saved the country by sending out job opportunities. I think today's economy crisis has many things in common with the Great depression (although not as horrible as it was). Many people are buying things on credit but not paying for it. And a lot of people can't make enough money to live, not to say paying taxes and everything. Also, many businesses failed, people broken, and still have much debt to pay. I think the whole world must remember the history, and work together to pass this economy crisis.
The Drought hit the States in 1930, which was in the period of the Great Depression, making this an even hard time for everyone. It came because of the overuse of lands; cattle grazing, farming, producing large amount of crops and grains, etc. It was a very hard time for the farmers because they could not plant anything (the weather wouldn't allowed) to make money. President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to save this situation by taking back some of the lands and give money to farmers so they could live. Finally in the fall of 1939 the rain came and everything started to grow. I think it was definitely a hardship for everyone at that time, especially when the weather was very bad (you can't do anything with it). But I was very impressed by how president FDR did to help the country, both in the Great Depression and the Drought. I hope there are still many people like him around today.
linda. :)
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history, and is used in the 21st century as a benchmark in how far the world's economy can fall. The depression had devastating effects in the developed and developing worlds. There were multiple causes for the first downturn in 1929, including the structural weaknesses and specific events that turned it into a major depression and the way in which the downturn spread from country to country. In the process of looking for information, I found that the effects of the Great Depression include: 13 million people became unemployed, and from the years 1929 to 1932, about 5000 banks went out of business. I learned from the article that at the Great Depression time, how miserable the situation was. Then I think of the recent subprime mortgage problems. Dad showed me the "Business Week", it references to the recent economic situation, many people estimate that the unemployment rate will raise a lot, and this situation will continue for a while. I think this book seems to be content with the environment in which we now have in common, so I think this book should be interesting.
~Claire
The drought and misuse of the land
generate the damage of the dust Bowl years. Settlers over-grown wheat crops made cause the problem of soil salinity. Overgrazing also bring about desertification to the land. Moreover, the drought came. All of those reasons turn "the western third of Kansas, Southeastern Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, the northern two-thirds of the Texas Panhandle, and northeastern New Mexico" into a veritable "dust bowl". Since the land become so terrible, farmers couldn't grow crops on it. Federal conservation programs started in 1935, it helps restore the Dust Bowl by changing the farming methods. The government paid the farmer to search for new ways to grow crops. The main point of the changing is to keep the land moist and grow crops seasonally. Now there's still soil salinity and desertification in many place like China, and countries in Central Asia. And of course there's drought in many place, so people have to careful so that the Dust Bowl won't reappear.
Amy Yang =ˇ=
Wonderful ideas! I like Claire and Chelsea's comments about how similar the Great Depression is to what is happening today. It is scary to think that the stock market can ruin so many people's lives.
Linda and Amy also talked about the Drought. It was just another bad thing on top of the depression. Over-farming still happens today, but, as Amy said, people are much smarter about how to farm today.
Great job, ladies!
The Great Depression was caused because people always buy some things that was expensive on credit.
And soon, their debt was getting higher and higher. People didn't have enough money to pay for the debt, so they can't pay for it right away. During The Great Depression, many employees were unemployed, that is, 1/4American didn't have a job. But the president didn't think this as a serious event and he said that was a passing incident in their national lives. So that make the economy situation became worse. Thankfully, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the rich governor from New York, offered Americans a New Deal, and was elected in a landslide victory in 1932. And he took quick action attack the depression. The depression didn’t get worse later.
But there was still a question. Although some argued that women should not be given jobs when many men were unemployed, the percentage of women working increased slightly during the Depression. Traditionally female fields of teaching and social services grew under New Deal programs. Children took on more responsibilities, sometimes finding work when their parents could not. Because of living through the Depression, some people developed habits of careful saving and frugality, others determined to create a comfortable life for themselves. I think it's great to see the wonderful ending.
The 6th comment is mine~~by Eirc.
I forgot to post my name.
Because everyone bought things with credit card, so there debt became higher and higer. Some business closed because of the market crash and the began of Great Depression. Great Depression caused many people loss their job. Everyone lived hardly in the Great Depression. It was awful, so we wouldn't want to have a Great Depression again.
The Great Depression started at 1929. At first, farm produce's price started to drop. It made economy become worse. In America, everyone bought a lot of stock to earn money, but the stock market crashed.It also let lots of American lose their job.When World War 2 started, every countries wanted hardwares, so America earned much money. The depression completely finished.
The Great Depression occured in 1929 to early1940s. Because of the desire to make money and get richer. People bought houses and automobiles. So that brought a big amount of dept. Soon, the banks crashed, on October 29, 1929. This collapse on economy had spread from US to all around the world. Many people became unployed because of the closing of the businessees and the bank. People became poorer and poorer and could hardly dwell. But at that time, the president of America-Herbert Hoover didn't take it as an important challenge. That made to economy worse. After Hoover, Roosevelt had became the president of America. He took quick action to solve The Great Depression. Although some people thought that women should not be working when the men are unemployed, more and more women founnd the job to solve the problem of the money.
Nowdays, the economy are going down, too. People should learn from the past. Take the right decision. But, it is still the best that we wouldn't face the Great Depression again.
The Great Depression affected most people in the world. The business and market crashed, banks also were affected badly. Debts gained higher, not only because the interest but also the banks closed so that no money could be borrowed. Many compaany fired employees from not getting crashed. Because of that, more and more people were unemployed, and the percentage of woman employee gained. African American suffered more than others from The Great Depression, most of there job were given to the whites. The price or applience grew higher so there were more poors being in the social.
Benny ～～～
October 29, 2008 8:51 PM
This post was post by JEFF LEE
I forgot to write my name!
People bought many things on credit. Their debts grew higher than before. Then the Great Depression happened. The presidents don't really care about the event. But later, the president tried to solve the problem.
The drout was terrible for farmers because there is noting to help the plants grow. They won't have anything to eat.
I think it is very terrible. I hope this would not happen to us.
The Great Depresion was happen because that people bought many thing on credit. At that time 1/4 Americans became unemployed. People get more and more debt, stock market crashed, many business closed.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, offered Americans a New Deal. He took quick action to attack the Depression. He rescue the country.
The Great Depression and the New Deal was important. That changed the relationship between Americans and their government.
~cindy(part1)
The stock market crushed on October 29, 1929, not only opened The Great Depressionm, also opened the miserable life for most of the people in the following years. At first, the President Herbert Hoover didn't really notice how the Depression will affect America, or even the whole world. It caused the unemployment of over 15 millions of Americans, in 1930, 50% of Blacks were also unemployed. These facts all show how terrifying The Great Depression is, I really don't want to see the Depression happen again.
I think now many people buy the thing on credit. When we look the news, we often saw the head line write "Can't slove the problem of dept--the woman suicide." It's terrible. If many people do that again and again, that is, you credit everything, that The Great Depression may happen again.
~cindy(part2)
During World War I, when the Europe was fighting, America was developing the economy. Since the war began, countries in Europe borrowed a lot of money from America. Americans became so rich that people spent their money wildly. They bought cars, household appliances, and speculating in the stock market. They thought buying stocks could make more money later, but they got the opposite of what they want. Suddenly, American government asked the countries to pay back the money. This broke the balance of world economy. One day, the stock market suddenly crashed, this influenced the economy of the whole world. The Great Depression made a lot of people lose their job and can hardly live. They had no food to eat. Factories were closed. People had to use a lot of money to buy a little thing. Finally, Roosevelt became the new president and solved the problem. The Great Depression last for about 11 years. During the great depression, there was a big drought. The drought was a kind of climate that often happen in America, but the misuse of the land made the drought more terrible. People couldn’t grow any prop, so everyone had little food to eat. The land became so dry that it’s covered by dust. That’s why Billie Jo kept writing about the dust in the novel. Her father tried to grow props, but the missing water forced him to stop. To solve the problem, American government changed their farming method. This did relief people’s situation.
The economy of the world is becoming worse now, things cost more money, but the wage doesn’t grow. People can felt the difficulties. Nowadays, everyone put their hope on the new president of the US.
Taiwan is a country that often rain, but few years ago, there was a little drought. Sometimes, the government stopped providing water and electricity to save some recourse. I felt very inconvenient at the time. I’m glad I’m not an American that lived sixty years ago.
~Iris
The economy were decreasing during the great depression. October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed, caused the Great Depression.
Their debt get higher and higher. With banks failing and businesses closing, more than 15 million Americans became unemployed.
The great depression occured because people were busy buying automobiles and household appliances, and speculating in the stock market, where big money could be made. I'm glad that Roosevelt did a good remedie to stop the great depression. Today we are also facing to the same economic difficulties, and i hope we will not go through the great depression again!!!
BY LEON
October 29, 1929, was a dark day in history. "Black Tuesday" is the day that the stock market crashed, officially setting off the Great Depression. Many people became homeless. In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president and he promised a "New Deal" for the American people. He offered work relief for thousands of people. "Dust Bowl" was a term born in the hard times from the people who lived in the drought-stricken region during the great depression. The crops were not harvested well. The Dust Bowl taught farmers new farming methods and techniques. It was an indelible experience.Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned form the Dust Bowl - take care of the land. I hope that would not happen again.
Blossom
As the economy gone well, the values of everyone changed. People perchased a lot, and invested a lot. However, these were all pay in credit. As the debt of everone gone higher than they can take, The Great Dpression happened.
During this hard time, many people were unemployed. The prices of goods were skyrocketing. But somehow, Precident Herbert Hoover didn't think of this as a big problem. The speech statement he gave really enraged everyone. Luckily, Franklin Delano Roosevelt took a quick action attack the great depression.
Since adults could hardly find a job, children got the responsibilities to help with part of the economy. In The Great Deprssion, you can see the discrimination in every direction. Women were complained that they shouldn't have a job since men were unemloyed. Black were in the first place to be fired. they suffered more than white people during the depression. I think that very unfair.
Comparing to today, we are now experiencing the economic crisis too. Thanks to our nation's exchange reserves, we only loose a little. The most helpful way is to save for the rainy days and reduse you expenses.
by Jeff Tsai
The Great Depression strated at 1929.It happened because many people wanted to make more money, they invested on cradit too more. Finaly their dept grew higher and higher. The stock market crashed on this problem. Many people loss their job and lived very hard. Many banks and bisinesses failed on the Great Depression.We don't want it to happen again
This article talked about the family lived at the time of Great Depression. And the Great Depression at 1930s caused a large of number of people lived in poverty, desperately in need of more food, clothing, and shelter. At 1933 the worst point of Great Depression, one in four Americans who wanted to work was unable to find a job. It was not until 1941 when the World War II was happening, that the official unemployment rate finally fell below 10%.
Now a day the economy in Taiwan was getting worse and worse. More and more higher education people can’t find a job. And the prices of every thing that we use in our life are getting more expensive than before. But the only thing stay without changing is our salary. It seems like it will never increase but reduce. With this new government people expected the government will do better and give us a better life. But during this few month people seemed not so happy about the new government. I hope the unemployment and the economy will improve in the few months after.
I think peo ple nowdays sould look back and remember this hard time that cause the "great" economic crashed. Actually, now in Tiawan you can see a little bit like the time. Before our goverment try solving this problem (they are finally faster in some ways) maybe Tiawan WILL fall into "the Not-So-Great Depresstion". in this terrible disaster 25 persent of people (I meant in U.S.) lose their job their debts became higher and higher in a seemed-to-be-unstoptable way. 1929 is a big year of the economic and also a warning to all of us. Crashing stocks, falling (as yuo know: not really "falling") companies. It is really horrible!
by*David
(P.S:Sorry for posting so late, I don't know why the computer gone out of order so my typing had all washed out. Sorry again!)
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history, and is used in the 21st century as a benchmark in how far the world's economy can fall. The Great Depression originated in the United States; historians most often use as a starting date the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. The end of the depression in the U.S. is associated with the onset of the war economy of World War II, beginning around 1939. We should be careful of ours ecomany too.
The Great Depression is a unforgettable part of the history.It happened because of people's desire, they buy things expensive by using credit, made their debt getting higher and higher and the stock market crashed,many people lost their job.But at the first, the govermant didn;t try to the this problem, the situation was getting worse. Fortunately,the next president tried to solve the problem. It'll be a horrible thing if it happen again, we will have no idea of that.It's better not to have a situation like that in the future.
By Joyce
During the Great Depression, everyone was buying things by using credit cards to pay, but people can't pay the debts. Many and many banks failed and businesses closed, more than 15 millions of people became unemployed. But because of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the rich governor from New York, this problem have been solved. Nowaday, Taiwan's econimic bacame very worse. Everything was more expensive than before and lots of stores were closed. I hope we will not be like the Great Depression, I don't think that there will have the second Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to help us.
By Ivy
The Great Depression could effect all the people in the world. People should always remember buying things with credit doesn't mean no need to pay. If you can't afford the debt, don't even let yourself get the debt. Also if it(the great depression) does happen, people need government's help to solve problem. The government could save a country but it also could destroy a country. I hope Taiwan's government could save Taiwan and won't let The Great Depression happen in Taiwan.
The Great Depreesion was a world-wide financial downturn strating 1929 in most places. It is a great measurement in how world economics can fall and is likley to be considered modern world's most important transition.
It begun when the New York Stock Market crashed in October 29,known as "Black Ttuesday". Citizins, wanting to get rich short time after World War 1, continuously bought stocks and bets just as much in their real estate.
In the recent three years the prices of American stocks had dried up to 20% of its original values. The crisis soon spread upon the whole world other than just North America and Europe, and upon all America was the worst.
Th range of empoyeement fiercly dropped and shrunk 'til then.(In 10
Americans are three people who don't have jobs) But like in most classical history events, it is known that a savior will riegn above all and rescue us from the temporary calamity. President Roosevalt stood up for the pesents and donated free seeds. He offered job oppourtunities to the urbans, and rebuilt the devastations in nature.(So that crops would survive)The Great Depression ended
in the late 1939's
It seems like another depression is on the way, sweeping its leg over the world, and our government seems not to realize the importance
of it, arduing happily about democracy in the high courts. Let's hope that a great leader like Mr. Roosevelt would come and save us from this disaster. But even if he doesn't, look on the bright side: it's really hard to make it worser than the Great Depression.
Tje condition of American economy was getting worse and worse, because of the war, cost lots of money from government, and the inside problems of finacial system. Finally, the crisis were callopse, lots of banks or insurance companies were bankrupt, and the workers lost their job, or the chance of surviving. The money in the banks were become debts of them, lots of people can't exchange or take their property out of the bank, so most of families were smash! And it cause the problem of society, everyone wanted to get better rescorces, to rescue themselves. Meanwhile, the climate changed in different way, people were slulffered from this!
The dry climate cause the agricultural problem: The less crops and serious inflation, same reason, the debts of war, and the bed condition in U.S. economy, made lots of people can't handle these serious problems. Like Billie's family, they can't harvest well for three years, and they can by enought rescources for them because of the great inflation. But something good happened, president planned the good way to solve and change the finacial system, and made American economy became better and better, and people can live well.
The strong system in every parts of society and make whole country well, and people can live in better condition, that's what I learn in this topic. People need to work hard, reach the goal of strong system in society, that can make us fell better and batter!
Because of being busy to buy some cars, eletrical stuff, and stocks to make oneself to be rich, the Great Depression occured in the USA. Just like today, the "America Subprime Mortgage Event" all the world has economy problems. Lots of people are worrid that if this situation will become the seccond "Great Depression".
Now, there's lots of news showing people were in trouble about they'er credit problems. Someone diside to die, someone diside to die with his or family, ...All these thing happens everyday. I just hope the world can leave away from the problems just like the dust storm covering the earth and go away.
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history. The cause of the depression happened when people were making more and more money and profits, and also buying more automobiles, household appliances and stocks on credit. Since all of the things were brought on the credit people started to have more and more debt. On October 29, 1929, the price of stocks in the market collapse, and the “Great Depression” started to begin. The depression had devastating effects in the developed and developing worlds. International trade was deeply affected, as were personal incomes, tax revenues, prices, and profits. Cities all around the world were hit hard, especially those dependent on heavy industry. Many stockholders lost large amounts of money. Banks, factories, and stores closed and left millions of Americans jobless and penniless. Most families had to depend on charity to provide food. President Herbert Hoover thought “The Great Depression” wasn’t a big deal and it would get over in a few months but President Hoover had underestimated the crisis and made the situation worst. Then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came and save the crisis by giving out better deals and job opportunities. I think there are economy crises right now; people are still buying a lot of things on credit and the price of things are raising and the stock are sliding down. Many company are firing people and some are closing down. Although this crisis doesn’t seem as terrible as “The Great Depression” but I think that people should be careful with this kind of situation.
Tammy
I think droughts are not very good for everyone, there's no water. And the fact is the most terrible trouble for farmers, especially those farmers during The Drought. Water was necessary for crops. If there was no water, the crops would wilt and die. Then those farmer would have nothing to live on. And they didn't have such so advanced farming techniques as now either. Also like what the woman from Oklahoma had said,"The wind-blown dust might penetrate wherever air can go."Because of the drought, the water was gone, the land was dry. Then wind came, blowing and bringing dust away. Then the strong wind hit the houses and tipped them off. The dust penetrated every crevice and tractored them out. The farmers were homeless. How could they grow crops in such a situation? The dust was also not good for the farmers health. In "Out of the Dust," Billie Jo took the in dust, and after the test, she was coughing badly. In her dream, the dust scratched her eyes, crunched between her teeth, chafed against her skin and crept inside her ears and nose. Although it was just only her dream, but I think it happened in the real life. And that is obvious not good for anyone's health!
The one post at November 9, 2008 6:27 AM is mine~by Michael.
~Sorry again~
by Michael
Before The Great Depression, people ended the first world war and it is time for them to let their econemy be better. People at that time liked to buy jewelry, big cars, houses and so on. When they don't have money, they would borrow money from others or use credit cards to pay for things. Because of that, they will have more and more debt.
anny (part1)
And on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed, then it started a terrible life of Americans-the Great Depression.
This is a little alike today's economy. People before always used credit cards to buy lots of things.(LV, Chanel, Gucci, Parda and so on) And a few months ago, we saw many people suicide on the TV news because of the heavy debt. The government also have videos to tell all of the people not to buy things in this way but it doesn't make a good work. There are still loads of people living in a hard-pressed life. And now, it even becomes worse. Not only Taiwan, but also other countries such as America, Iceland, and Europe have this kind of situation.
Iceland, failed because of its economy, now people who live there have no money( maybe they have money but these money can't buy anything) and no work. I remember one day when I am watching the news, I saw that a blonde-hair woman sigh, saying( with tears) that she can't believe one of the richest country failed in one day, and now she doesn't know how to live in the future.
Maybe the feeling of her is exactly the feeling of people who live during the Great Depression. Banks and businesses closed, the unemployeement rate was higher than ever, one-quarter of people don't have a job, people met drought in that time(there is a drought in that time because before the Great Depression, People produce too much crops, milk.etc. And when the disaster came, people's products are too much. They can't sell it!!! Also the land farmers own is barren because the land can't afford the crops they grow before. Then they don't have money to buy other things and can't produce anything.)
OH!!!!How terrible!!!I couldn't imagine if I lived during that time.
Fortunately, president Roosevelt did something immediately that can help economy and the drought(Roosevelt tried to save this situation by taking back some of the lands and give money to farmers so they could live.) and helped America get though this terrible disaster.(not like prisident Hoover, this president didn't take it seriously and made the situation worse)
I wish that Taiwan can get through this economic disaster soon. I don't want to experience the Great Depression one day!!!!!!!!!!
by anny
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