N O T E B O O K
C H A P T E R
G U I D E
32
The Human Impact of
the Great Depression
How did ordinary Americans endure the hardships
of the Great Depression?
K e y
C o n t e n t
T e r m s
As you complete the Reading Notes, use these
Key Content Terms in your answers:
soup kitchen
The Grapes of Wrath
black blizzard
Great Flood of 1936
breadline
Okies
Dust Bowl
P R E V I E W
Examine the projected photograph as you listen to
“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” This song was
written in the early 1930s. Then answer these questions
in your notebook:
1. Is the song’s tempo fast or slow? How does the tempo
make you feel?
2. What did the singer do before the Great Depression?
What is he doing now?
3. In what ways does the photograph reflect what you
hear and feel when listening to the song?
4. Thinking about the song and the photograph, in what
ways do you think people might have endured the
hardships of the Depression?
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
They used to tell me
I was building a dream.
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow
Or guns to bear
I was always there
Right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead.
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?
Once I built a railroad
I made it run
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad
Now it’s done.
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower up to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower
Now it’s done.
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits
Gee we looked swell
Full of that yankee doodly dum.
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
And I was the kid with the drum!
Say don’t you remember?
They called me Al.
It was Al all the time.
Why don’t you remember?
I’m your pal.
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
289
N o t e b o o k
G u i d e
R E A D I N G
3 2
N O T E S
Step 1 Prepare a “scrapbook” for your tour of the
country during the Great Depression:
• Draw a horizontal line across the center of two pages
in your notebook. Do the same on the next two pages.
• Tape one of the eight photographs from Notebook
Handout 32 along the left edge of each space.
Step 2 Visit the eight stations on the tour. Examine
the photograph and the primary source at each station.
Read the subsection(s) of Chapter 32 identified on the
placard, and record notes in the space with the matching
photograph. Include the following in your notes for
each station:
• three or more important and interesting facts from
the reading
• a title above the photograph that identifies the state
you are visiting
• a thought bubble for the person in the photograph
that describes the hardships he or she faced during
the Depression
• a quotation from the primary source at the station
that describes at least one way people endured the
hardships of the Depression
• additional creative touches to make your scrapbook
realistic, such as a sketch of an item you picked up
during your visit to that state
State name here
Facts from the reading here
The hardships I
endured were . . .
Quotation from primary source here
290 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
N o t e b o o k
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
H a n d o u t
3 2
Scrapbook Photographs
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
291
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 A
Letter from Illinois
February 1936
Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt
Wash., D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
my family. My father hasn’t
I’m a boy of 12 years. I want to tell you about
relief, he filled out application.
worked for 5 months. He went plenty times to
. Please you do something. We
They won’t give us anything. I don’t know why
lord rings the door bell, we don’t
haven’t paid 4 months rent. Everyday the land
be put out, been put out before,
open the door for him. We are afraid that will
paid the gas bill, and the electric
and don’t want to happen again. We haven’t
brother goes to Lane Tech. High
bill, haven’t paid grocery bill for 3 months. My
school for 2 weeks because he got
School. he’s eighteen years old, hasn’t gone to
rs, she can’t find work. My father he
no carfare. I have a sister she’s twenty yea
he can’t find work. I told him why
staying home. All the time he’s crying because
shouldn’t I cry when there is nothing
are you crying daddy, and daddy said why
I couldn’t sleep. The next morning
in the house. I feel sorry for him. That night
rican citizens and were born in
I wrote this letter to you in my room. Were Ame
help us Please answer right away
Chicago, Ill. and I don’t know why they don’t
because we need it. will starve Thank you.
God bless you.
[Anonymous]
Chicago, Ill.
Robert S. McElvaine.
sion: Letters from the Forgotten Man by
From Down and Out in the Great Depres
sion of the publisher.
permis
by
Used
Press.
a
Carolin
North
Copyright © 1983 by the University of
292 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 B
Letter from North Dakota
Dear Mr. Hopkin
s:
Dickinson, N.D.
October 30, 19
33
I just wound up
my first day’s
say there was
work in North
nothing partic
Dakota. I must
ularly joyous
about it.
This afternoon
. . . I drove
. . . to a shab
church, standi
ng bleakly alon
by little coun
try
e in the center
prairie land.
of a vast tawn
y
Grouped about
the entrance to
more men in sh
the church were
abby denim, sh
a dozen or
ivering in the
across the plai
bi
ti
ng
n.
wind that swep
t
Farmers, these,
“hailed out” la
destroyed by tw
st summer, thei
o hail storms
r crops
that came with
other in June
in three weeks
and July, now
of each
applying for re
lief.
Most of them a
few years ago
were considered
They have land
—lots of land.
well-to-do.
Most of them ha
You think of a
ve
64
0
farmer with 64
acres or so.
0 acres as bein
are “land poor
g rich. These
.” A 640-acre
fellows
farm at $10 an
land is worth
acre—which is
hereabouts thes
wh
at
e
da
ys—means only
land. Most of
$6,400 worth of
them have a lo
t
of stock, 30 or
12 or 16 horses
40 head of catt
, some sheep an
le,
d hogs. Their
rangy, is tryi
st
oc
k, thin and
ng to find a fe
w
mo
ut
that the winds
hsful of food
on land so bare
pick up the to
p soil and blow
Their cows have
it about like
gone dry for la
sand.
ck of food. Th
laying. Much of
eir hens are no
their livestoc
t
k will die this
livestock and
winter. And th
their land are
eir
in most cases
very limit. Th
mortgaged up to
ey are all way
th
e
be
hi
nd on their ta
Some of them fi
xes, of course
ve years! . .
.
.
It doesn’t take
much, they say,
One man said he
to keep this st
lost seven milc
ock alive.
h [milk] cows
that $15 worth
last winter, an
of feed would
d
have kept them
alive.
Lorena Hickok
Franklin D. Roosev
elt Presidential Lib
rary
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
293
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 C
Letter from Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
November 10, 1940
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt:
order to find a job. Since my dad died
I am a boy of 17, I quit school 2 years ago in
. We stretched his insurance money so
3 years ago we haven’t been able to do so good
it.
far as it would go, but now we have to face
3rd falling due this Wednesday, the
We are behind 2 months in our rent and the
are 5 of us, mother, 3 boys and myself. I
13th. We pay $15 a month for 4 rooms. There
ourselves evicted from our house. We’ve
really wouldn’t be writing this, but I can’t see
t half of our rent paid up. It would be
got till Wednesday to get either all or at leas
care of myself one way or another.
all right if it was only me because I could take
vered from tuberculosis and must
My mother can’t get work because she just reco
turn to crime as a means of getting
rest. I am afraid that if nothing comes up I will
financial help.
at night and shine shoes. They go
My little brothers are shoeshiners. They go out
helps. You might say, why don’t we go on
mostly in beer gardens. Their little money even
on that. She said she would rather starve
relief, well you just can’t convince my mother
than get relief.
a week. We could get along on this in
I am working as a grocery store clerk at $8.00
problem.
summer but not in winter on account of the coal
about $35.00 or more, we could get
I was wondering that maybe you could loan us
heads. We will greatly appreciate this
on our feet again and once again hold up our
second start in life with all of our hearts.
r in some way . . .
Will you please be so kind as to answer this lette
Thanks Ever So Much
V. B. F.
r before Wednesday somehow. I’ll be praying
P.S. Please, again I say, try to answer this lette
h with interest until it is all paid up.
every night for your loan. I’ll give you $1.00 a mont
afraid it might be thrown out by your
P.S. The reason I marked is peronel is that I was
secretaries before you even read it.
Cohen.
Children of the Great Depression by Robert
From Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from
by permission of the publisher.
Used
Press.
a
Carolin
North
of
sity
Copyright © 2002 by the Univer
294 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 D
Letter from New Jersey
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt;
Verona, N.J.
November 10, 1938
I am a young girl ninet
een (19) years old, I
have had a lot of sic
younger day which de
kness in my
layed my schooling. I
am finishing High scho
Dad has been out of
ol in February.
work since last June.
We lost our house in Ne
we had for almost tw
wark . . . which
enty (20) years. Unab
le to find any houses
moved to Verona. I ha
in Newark, we
ve an older brother
who is the only one wo
makes only $15 a we
rking, and he
ek, which is just abou
t enough to keep up
are six (6) children in
th
e rent. There
the family, a sister an
d brother in Vocatio
a younger one in gram
nal schools and
mar school. We have
little to eat . . .
My eyes have been ba
d . . . and now I need
my glasses changed
the money and it is
I don’t have
very difficult for me
to continue my studie
no money to buy clot
s.
We have had
hing and use only wh
at people gave us.
Graduation is very ex
pensive because ther
e are so many things
pay for. Could you loa
to get and
n me twenty-five do
llars so I can gradua
get a job after scho
te
.
I
am trying to
ol, but I need my extr
a time for studies, an
can get is day work
d
th
e only work I
. . . After graduation
I will try and get a job
one ambition, to be a
,
fo
r I have but
nurse. I will save and
send you back your
help my family, and
mo
ne
y then I wll
if I can save a little
maby by September,
for my entrance fee,
I
wi
ll
have enough
into some Hospital. It
is very embarrassing
dress like the other
no
t
to be able to
girls, and not have mo
ney for my class dres
s
.
.
.
Having no one else to
turn to I am asking yo
u, can’t you help us or
something to do. I wi
tell us
ll be waiting to hear
fr
om you and please ke
between the two of
ep this personal
us.
Yours very truly,
[Anonymous]
From Dear Mrs. Roo
sevelt: Letters from
Children of the Gre
Copyright © 2002
at Depression by
by the University
Robert Cohen.
of North Carolina
Press. Used by per
mission of the pub
lisher.
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
295
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 E
Lyrics About the Dust Bowl (Texas)
Dust Bowl Refugee
I’m a dust bowl refugee,
Just a dust bowl refugee.
From that dust bowl to the peach bowl,
Now the peaches is killing me.
’Cross the mountain to the sea,
Come the wife and kids and me.
It’s a hot old dusty highway
For a dust bowl refugee.
Hard, it’s always been that way,
Here today and on our way
Down that mountain, ’cross the desert,
Just a dust bowl refugee.
We are ramblers so they say,
We are only here today.
Then we travel with the seasons,
We’re the dust bowl refugees.
From the southland and the droughtland,
Come the wife and kids and me.
And this old world is a hard world
For a dust bowl refugee.
Yes we ramble and we roam,
And the highway, that’s our home.
It’s a never-ending highway
For a dust bowl refugee.
Yes we wander and we work
In your crops and in your fruit.
Like the whirlwinds on the desert,
That’s the dust bowl refugees.
I’m a dust bowl refugee,
I’m a dust bowl refugee.
And I wonder will I always
Be a dust bowl refugee.
—Woody Guthrie
296 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 F
Letter from Pennsylvania
Muncy, Pa.
April 3, 1936
Your Excellency:
The President of the
United States
White House
Washington, D.C.
On March the sevent
eenth and eighteent
h, our little borough
was flooded, the larg
of Muncy, Pennsylvania
est flood ever record
ed in our town, and ov
families forced to fle
er
three hundred
e their homes. I must
say it was a terrible
coming into the home
sig
ht
to see the water
s and being powerless
to stop it. Being only
what we could.
able to move and sa
ve
Our borough is small
but we were fortunat
e in having two organiz
very fine work. The
ations that done
Keystone Hook and La
dd
er Company (a volunte
moved families and
er
fire company),
furniture from the flo
oded area, rescued
patrol service to preve
livestock and did nig
nt looting.
ht
The American Legion,
Roland Ritter Post 26
8 furnished food and
rescue workers and
hot coffee to
flood victims immedi
at
ely
. They arranged with
vide emergency sleep
our churches to proing quarters and esta
blished regular meal
s for flooded familie
s...
Thru the efforts of
the American Legion,
Ro
la
nd
Ri
Hook and Ladder Co
tter Post 268 and Th
mpany, no lives were
e Keystone
lost, no disorder occu
disease was prevent
rre
d,
an
d
ep
idemic of
ed. For such a fine se
rvice to our community
could be more appre
, I feel certain nothing
ciated and honored
than a letter of comm
The President of the
endation [praise] from
United States . . .
Hoping that you will gr
ant me such a kind
and appropriate favo
r, I am
Sincerely yours
Clark B. Kahler
Franklin D. Roosev
elt Presidential Lib
rary
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
297
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 G
Letter from Oregon
July 25, 1939
Mr. and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir and Madam:—
I simply have to write to some one
Hardly expect this to reach you personally but
an honest living.
about the hopelessness of our trying to earn
school this fall, the other boy in
We are a family of four, one boy to enter high
s, happily, in spite of the terrific struggle
junior-high. We’ve been married sixteen year
trying to make both ends meet.
thousands of others. We started
Our problem is the same as hundreds, more likely
years of our married life and are still
out with doctor and hospital bills the first few
wage but can’t live even comfortably on it
trying to pay them off. We make a fair living
ing interest now. We have tried to get
as most of it goes to pay these old bills, all draw
us. No matter how we try the future hasn’t
on a cash basis but then the creditors press
a sign of a rose tint. Is there a solution? . . .
to get on our feet and free of debt.
We don’t ask for charity or relief, but just help
le, trying to get along? How can people
Isn’t there aid of some sort for the honest peop
every cent is needed for old accounts?
be happy, contented and good Americans when
just as we are. What is to become of us?
I personally know dozens of families, struggling
y cent is needed for bills.
We can’t save for a rainy day because ever
be sure we can manage high school.
We want to educate our boys but we can’t even
for all bills, not more than $500, then
We’ve tried to get a loan at the bank, enough
and could easily pay interest on one
we’d only have to pay interest on one account
on one account. The banker advised
account and could make monthly payments
r wise. They are justly owed bills and
bankruptcy, said we didn’t have a chance othe
we want to pay them if possible . . .
g you can give us a bit of advice too.
You are both doing a wonderful job but I’m hopin
Very sincerely
Mrs. Ivan G. Martin
Foster, Oregon
and War by Cathy D. Knepper.
to Eleanor Roosevelt Through Depression
From the book Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters
Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.
of
n
Divisio
a
Graff,
&
Carroll
er,
of the publish
Copyright © 2004. Appears by permission
298 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
S t a t i o n
M a t e r i a l s
3 2 H
Letter from Georgia
Dear Mrs Roosevelt,
Brunswick, Ga.,
Aug. 4, 1934
Having the highest re
spect for you as “Firs
t Lady of the Land”
have much interest
and feeling that you
in and deepest symp
at
hy
for suffering humanit
you on the behalf of
y, I am appealing to
the aged people of my
race and community
care and attention.
who are in need of
I am a colored girl nin
eteen (19) years of ag
e and a high school
source of pleasure lie
graduate. My main
s in caring for helples
s people and especia
lly the aged.
There are unfortunat
ely in my community
many people who are
care for themselves
old and unable to
properly, and it is for
those people I am seek
ing aid.
I am quite sure thos
e in charge of this wo
rk are doing their du
conditions of these pe
ties yet the physica
ople will not allow them
l
to care for themselve
s
pro
pe
rly
.
My one hope is to have
an institution establi
shed for the purpose
the aged, one in which
of caring for
they might be able
to
enjoy real comfort, we
which are so essentia
ll-prepared meals
l to health, happiness
and peace, as well as
surroundings.
are comfortable
I feel as though they
deserve consideration
along this line in as mu
have been for the mo
ch as their lives
st part, lives of hard
wo
rk
and sacrifice; and pe
them have never ac
rhaps most of
tually known real ple
asure, and being de
for their many sacrifi
ep
ly
indebted to them
ces, I feel it my duty
to appeal for aid on
their behalf . . .
I am not asking you fo
r a personal donation,
but am humbly begg
consider my plans an
ing that you
d aid me in securing
funds for carrying th
em out . . .
Please help me, I beg
of you in my effort to
aid these unfortunat
please except a reply
es. And may I,
?
Sincerely Yours,
H. E. G.
From Dear Mrs. Roo
sevelt: Letters from
Children of the Gre
Copyright © 2002
at Depression by
by the University
Robert Cohen.
of North Carolina
Press. Used by per
mission of the pub
lisher.
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
The Human Impact of the Great Depression
299
I n f o r m a t i o n
M a s t e r
3 2
Writing a Letter About Hardships of the Depression
During your tour of the country, you learned about ordinary Americans who
experienced the Great Depression. Like Lorena Hickok, you will now report your
discoveries. Use the information in your scrapbook to write a letter to Eleanor
Roosevelt describing the hardships people endured during the Depression.
Your letter must have the following:
• An appropriate date, salutation, and closing.
• A brief introduction summarizing the states you visited and the types of people
you met.
• A description of your visit to at least two states. For each state, include
—information on the hardships people faced during the Depression and
the ways in which they endured those hardships.
—a quotation and one or more facts from the reading.
—any relevant Key Content Terms.
• At least four of these words: betrayal, change, depressed, desperation, destitute,
dreadful, encourage, honorable, hope, ideals, plague, pride, self-respect, shame,
stress, suffer, worth.
• A conclusion summarizing your thoughts about how ordinary Americans
endured the hardships they faced during this time period.
300 Chapter 32
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute