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The Great Depression
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- In later years, what was the first thing that came into his mind when he heard the word "Depression"? What feelings and memories did this word bring back?
- Did his family or friends invest in the stock market? Did he or anyone he knew lose money in the stock market? What did this money loss mean?
- How quickly were the effects of the stock market crash felt in his household, if at all? Did he notice what was happening because of the effects it had on his family or because of the effects it had on others?
- Did he experience bank panics? What happened at these times? Did he lose money or was he unable to get use of his money because of a panic?
- What did he have to do without during the Depression? New clothes? Money for entertainment? Meat? Or was his family still fairly comfortable?
- How did he feel when he became aware of the magnitude of the economic difficulties? Was he afraid for himself and his family or was he confident that he would make it through? How did his expectations measure up to reality?
- About 25% of the work force was unemployed at the height of the Depression. How were his family and friends affected in this aspect? Were they out of jobs for extended periods of time or did they have steady work?
- Without steady work, what was done to get money? Did he have to sell any of his possessions? How did it feel to do this? Was it hard to part with some items or was he just happy to have the money? What was sold first?
- Did his family move to find work in another part of the state or country? If so, were they successful? How did it feel to face the unknown?
- Did his family move in with relatives or did he take in relatives who were having difficulties? What was it like having extra people in the household? Was there any resentment among the different family members?
- Did he or anyone he knew become homeless? What happened? Did he or they move into a "Hooverville"? What were the conditions there? What was the mood of the inhabitants?
- What did his family think about accepting or giving charity? Did they not like to accept help from others? Did they think that people should fend for themselves? Were they happy to give or receive what they could?
- Even during the height of the Depression, many people who could scrape together enough money still went to the movies. Did he do this? Why? Was it a way to escape reality?
- In later years, what did he remember about the movie stars of the era? Did they seem as glamorous then as we tend to characterize them now? Did he or others resent their lifestyles when so many people were desperately poor?
- How were holidays celebrated during the Depression? Did he still eat special foods or give and receive gifts when appropriate? Did they pass by without anyone noticing? How had the mood changed?
- What did he think were some of the major causes of the Depression? Did he think that it was caused by over-speculation in the stock market or bad bank loans? What else might have added to the problems?
- Why did he think that it lasted for so long? Were the policies of Hoover and FDR effective or ineffective? What would he have done in the President's place?
- What were his opinions of Hoover and his policies? What was he doing right and what was he doing wrong?
- Did he think that FDR would do a better job than Hoover? Why or why not?
- Before the stock market crashed, were people generally optimistic about the future? How long was it after the Depression before optimism returned?
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