LESSON 3
The 1930s: How did the Great Depression affect the lives
of Americans? (Part II)
INTRODUCTION FOR STUDENTS
In today’s class, you
will examine a variety of
sources, including letters,
interviews, oral histories,
and photographs. You will
see the effect of the Depres-
sion in greater detail on
children, rural and urban
Americans, the elderly, and
African Americans. The
government responded to
these problems by creat-
ing programs that would
help each of these groups.
You will also see that some
Americans opposed government aid for those hurt by
the Depression.
Questions for group discussion
After you look at the documents you were given (one of six sets of documents following
in this book), please answer these questions. Be prepared to explain your answers to the
entire class.
1. Name three ways that the Depression affected the people in the documents you have
been given. If you don’t think the Depression affected these Americans, explain why
they escaped hard times.
2. What strategies, if any, did these Americans use to survive during the hard times?
3. What kinds of assistance, if any, are these Americans seeking from the government?
Why are they seeking this kind of assistance?
30 Lessons in United States History
4. Has the Depression brought these Americans into conflict (disagreement) with other
groups? What kind of conflict? How have they tried to solve their conflicts?
LESSON 3
5. Has the Depression brought these Americans into any alliances (positive connection/
associations) with other groups? What kinds of alliances?
6. How do you think the government should respond to these Americans’ requests?
Name two ways or government programs that could satisfy their concerns.
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal
31
DOCUMENT 1: CHILDREN AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION
The readings in this section are taken from a book by
Thomas Minehan, Boy and Girl Tramps of America. Minehan was a researcher who, beginning in 1932, traveled
among America’s homeless to learn the “ideas, attitudes,
and viewpoints of the mass of men hit most cruelly by
the depression.” He soon found that many of the homeless were young people—girls and boys—who traveled the
nation’s railroads. Disguised as a homeless man, Minehan
managed to collect the stories of over five hundred boys
and girls. While not all children were homeless, the stories
show some of the problems faced by families during the
Depression.
Minehan said that, in his experience, about one of every
twenty children traveling the rails was a girl. There is a PBS
documentary, “Riding the Rails” (1998) that also covers
this topic; the filmmakers believe that as many as 250,000
young people lived on the road at the height of the Depression.
Children at city dump (July
1938) Arthur Rothstein
Library of Congress, Prints &
Photographs Division, FSA-OWI
Collection [LC-USF33-002831-M2
DLC]
Why Did They Leave Home?
out?” I ask.
nt to give the
a
u
w
o
y
y
tl
k
c
ic
a
k
x
e
n
t
a
o
“Did the old m still to his family, Joe does n
gave me plenty
e
h
t
u
b
l
a
t,
y
u
o
o
L
e
s.
ick m
“Well, no.”
idn’t exactly k
rs,” Joe explain
d
a
e
e
y
e
“H
re
.
n
th
io
st
ss
la
in the
teen. I
wrong impre
orked steady
st. I’m seven
e
w
ld
’t
o
sn
e
a
h
th
e
m
H
I’
of hints.
gave me no
home, and
o
t
h
a
w
s
r
e
id
c
k
ro
s
g
u
a
f
o
o for
et
“There’s seven
s two years ag
. I couldn’t g
th
p
n
u
o
d
m
se
x
si
lo
c
t
u
e
o
h
Then
our
worked for ab
od and stuff.
y cut down on s
fo
e
,
th
w
o
ll
n
fa
k
st
u
a
o
L
y
ts.
ord
wages but,
kept giving hin
ld. I cut nine c
n
o
a
c
m
so
s
ld
a
o
w
e
h
se
T
u
o
anything.
I thought I’d
cause our h
e
d
b
n
a
d
,
e
d
b
a
b
to
o
so
g
’t
to
’t
t wasn
relief. We had
mas, but I ain
e us two. Tha
v
st
a
ri
g
h
e
C
H
r
.
fo
n
,
a
o
m
to
ore
duck,
of wood for a
rt giving any m
got the kids a
a
I
st
s.
ld
a
u
m
o
c
st
n
ri
a
h
e old m
stay until C
hen, before th
T
.
it
t
o
g
I
w
saying ho
”
hints, I scrams.
an,
Source: Mineh
pp.37-38
32 Lessons in United States History
girlish and deli
re
a
s
k
e
e
h
c
le
a
and p
ars to
eyes, fair hair,
ent, she appe
e
m
lu
b
sh
r
ri
e
u
o
H
.
rn
e
n
d
e
y.
nic un
Kay is fifte
naws habituall
ng from chro
g
ri
e
e
ff
sh
su
h
d
ic
n
h
a
w
in
s
ly
cate…Sick
g enough to jo
er finger nail
n
h
lo
n
o
th
p
u
u
o
ly
m
re
r
e
ti
en
from h
kids
subsist almost
eight younger
s a finger away
e
k
re
a
ta
e
re
e
sh
h
T
”—
.
’t
o
r four
o but g
“There wasn
rked steady fo
lse for me to d
o
e
w
h
’t
c
u
sn
a
h
“m
d
—
a
n
d that’s all we
t of work. D
the discussio
n
u
a
o
,
r
k
e
e
e
st
w
si
r
a
e
7
ld
$
ne o
e
bing—
at home and o
e wouldn’t tak
W
got a job scrub
r
.
e
e
g
th
d
o
le
M
a
.
o
m
tw
got fro
toes
years. Sis, for
mmer for pota
me clothes we
su
so
ll
r
a
fo
t
rk
p
o
e
w
c
x
to
e
ance
ith his
had to live on
offered me a ch
have stayed w
r
e
ld
u
o
rm
c
fa
I
a
.
n
it
e
k
h
o
charity. So w
try I could earn
st winter I to
n
la
u
y
o
il
c
e
m
fa
th
e
h
g
th
u
for
”
d thro
and vegetables
h like it now…
skipped aroun
c
I
u
if
m
e
k
b
o
y
a
lo
m
’t
t
n
h
o
ug
ut it d
wife, but I tho
ucks home. B
b
w
fe
a
d
n
se
some cash and
an, pp.45-46
Ragged, smilin
g Texas, merr
y as usual, is
with a knapsa
returning
ck full of brea
d which he ha
town. He reco
s
b
egged upunts his experi
en
and with the
pardonable bra ces and success gustily
ggadocio of o
accomplished
ne who has
something.
“…and one w
oman asked m
e why did I lea
and I answers
, ‘Hard times,
ve home,
la
d
y!’ Just like th
times, lady, ha
at. ‘Hard
rd times!’”
His auditors la
ugh. And hard
lady.
times it seems
to be,
Three hundred
and sixty-six b and eighty-seven out of fourhundred
oys and girls
stated definite
times drove th
ly that hard
em away from
home. Yet the
er reasons. T
re
were othwenty-six of th
e remaining se
were on the ro
venty-nine
ad because of
some trouble w
Source: Mineh
ith a girl.
an, pp.47-48
LESSON 3
Source: Mineh
Their New
Education
new bought a
k
I
l
ir
g
e
n
O
kets.
she went from
ave honest rac
h
rm
s
a
p
r
m
e
a
h
tr
n
g
o
n
is
u
With th
rices
Not all yo
r, she asked p
d vegetables.
o
e
o
rt
d
o
k
ss
c
a
a
f
b
o
e
t
e
th
ing.
ing to
small bask
nd to sell anyth
a woman com
te
f
in
O
t
o
.
n
se
u
id
o
d
h
e
h
home.
ing. S
house to
ver sold anyth
woman not at
e
e
n
th
e
d
sh
n
t
a
a
—
th
n
h
e
or op
so hig
find a back do
to
s
a
w
t
e
k
c
ra
r
He
-132
an, pp.131
Source: Mineh
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal
33
While the necessities of life are forcing many young tramps to beg and steal
or to starve, many clever ones are doing neither. They are learning rackets.
A racket in the child tramp’s parlance is merely a legal method of making a
living under pressure. It may be a personal talent that can be exploited. More
often it is something that can be sold or traded for board and meals….
“Every town is soft for me,” boasted another youth as our train slowed
up in the yards of Indianapolis and we prepared to jump [off the train].
“Watch me hit this one for a meal in ten minutes. Come along, and I’ll get
you one too,” he offered.
I came. My friend entered the first saloon we encountered after we left
the [railroad yard].
“Listen,” he said to the proprietor. “I am an artist. I can draw any kind
of picture on your window you want. Let me clean off that old stuff and draw
something new. All it will cost you is a couple of forty-cent dinners.”
The proprietor agreed, reserving the right to reject the work. We
cleaned the windows. My friend went to work. He drew a picture of a foaming stein, a fat German, a dachshund, and a Gibson girl, in five minutes. We
got the dinners.
“You see, Shorty,” he bragged, and not without justice, “you gotta have
a racket. Then it is a snap.”
Source: Minehan, pp.129-131
Begging is the
fi
ago it was alm rst thing they learn. But a fe
w years
ost a professio
n. Good pan
in 1929 made
handlers
$4 or $5 a da
y in any city.
1934], the be
Today [in
st seldom ma
ke forty cents
good tale, a n
. It takes a
ew approach,
and Spartan-lik
and persistenc
e fortitude
e to get a dim
e. Sharp wits
feet are neede
a
nd nimble
d now to hit th
e stem in any
are hostile; the
c
ity. Cops
public is hard-b
oiled; and jails
ing. Various d
eceptions are n
are waitecessary. The
learns all of th
child tramp
em….
…house-to-ho
use begging is
an art in itself.
“Look for a ya
rd with a lot o
f kids’ playthin
coached a you
ngster from Sc
gs in it,”
henectady, wh
ago was playin
o five years
g with toys him
self. “And a p
they keep the
lace where
grass cut in fr
ont, play-toys
yard. You’re su
in the back
re to get some
thing if it is on
“A good day to
ly a meal.
hit a house is
washing on th
w
h
e
n
th
e
re
is a lot of
e line,” he con
tinued. “You’r
woman is at h
e
ome and got so
sure the
mething ready
Source: Mineh
to
e
at….”
an, pp.121, 12
6
34 Lessons in United States History
DOCUMENT 2: AMERICANS WHO OPPOSED RELIEF DURING THE GREAT
DEPRESSION
One-quarter of Americans were unemployed during the Depression. Many
people wrote to the President asking for help. However, not everyone was affected by the Depression.
Some rich Americans did
not think the government
should try to solve economic problems. You are
about to read some of the
letters they wrote to the
President urging him not
to get involved. The first
source was written to Herbert Hoover in 1931. The
other letters were written
to Senator Robert Wagner
of New York and to Eleanor
Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The final source is an oral
history with William Benton.
er
erbert Hoov
President H
, D.C.
Washington
h your
ou along wit
oover,
y
H
r
r.
e
e
M
ch
r
a
e
to
d
My
letter and
you a short
te
ri
w
to
se
o
ossolutely imp
It is my purp
b
a
is
it
n
io
eral
issatisfact
rtakings….
w of the gen
d general d
ie
n
trying unde
v
a
l
st
ia
re
rt
n
a
u
p
f
days o
clear and im
tive, that
….In these
m very posi
tion to get a
a
si
I
o
p
ct
r
fa
u
o
y
is
an in
ployment
But, of th
sible for a m
rica today.
eneral unem
e
g
m
d
A
n
a
in
,
s
ss
g
e
tr
uch
f thin
poverty, dis
t there is m
a
e
conditions o
th
th
e,
f
u
o
tr
t
n
is
five per ce
d genbelieve. It
there is not
rosperity an
uld have us
p
o
w
e
s
iv
ie
ss
m
ce
e
x
n
f your e
–by the e
d of war.
that many o
ely caused,–
ce the perio
rg
n
si
la
d
is
le
e
st
v
a
re
this un
king for a
untry has tr
unrest, but
ployed is loo
which the co
m
e
h
n
g
u
u
e
ro
th
th
ith
ur,
ery
g provided w
ses out of fo
in
eral debauch
e
ca
b
e
f
o
re
e
th
g
e
in
il
eing that
h the priv
cks a day.
The result b
pay, and wit
y
v
a
e
h
r or five blo
u
ry
fo
e
v
n
a
a
t
th
a
re
b
o
rely unvery light jo
tee are enti
ed to walk m
it
ir
m
u
q
m
re
co
is
is
h
e
ile if h
ford and
neglect any
an automob
Walter S. Gif
munities to
r
o
m
ct
co
e
ir
se
D
u
f
ca
e
li
rden
to
National Re
a tendency
ssing the bu
a
s
p
a
f
h
o
it
t
s
h
g
a
u
ve bilt this time,
ith the tho
suggested fi
necessary a
eir people, w
e
th
th
f
t
o
a
y
th
n
n
a
relief to
ractical,
o of opinio
temporary
g, is an imp
e. I am als
n
te
ti
it
a
it
m
g
m
a
o
n
C
e
l
e
b
the
ationa
place upon
papers have
t
ld
on to the N
u
rs
o
a
w
e
H
y
e
e
tion that th
an, that th
n and obliga
lion dollar lo
e
rd
u
b
ry
a
unnecess
pay off….
foolish, and
prosperity to
re
tu
fu
f
o
shoulders
ere
Yours Sinc
]
W.H.H. [male
Source: McElv
ly,
aine, pp.38-39
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 35
LESSON 3
rtgages
surance Mo
In
te
a
st
E
l
a
Re
and Builder
Contractor
W.H.H.
aryland
0, 1931
Annapolis, M
September 1
Hornell, New
York
March 7, 19
34
My Dear Se
nator [Wagn
er]:
It seems ve
ry apparen
t to me tha
is accelerati
t the Admin
ng its pace
istration in
towards soci
ery public st
Washington
alism and co
atement fro
m
m
u
n
m
is
Washington
m. Nearly
which would
evis against st
Everyone is
im
u
la
sy
ti
on of busine
mpathetic to
and better
ss
the cause o
wages for la
f creating m
bor; but, a
troubles, hig
o
p
re
ro
jobs
gram contin
her wages, sh
ually promo
orter hours
seem to me
ti
n
g
,
la
a
bor
n
d less profits
to be leadin
for business
g us fast to
must more
, would
a condition
and more e
where the G
xpand its re
to disaster
o
v
e
rn
li
e
ment
f activities,
to all classe
and will lea
s.
d in the end
I believe tha
t every citiz
en is entitle
ment, and I
d to know th
am so confu
e policy of th
se
d
that I wish y
whether it
e Governou would wri
is the policy
te
m
o
f
e
th
a
nd advise m
is Administr
important p
e
ation, of wh
art, to furth
ich you are
er discourag
set up a pro
a
e
v
b
u
e
ry
siness enterp
gram which
rise, and ev
eliminates p
places it wit
e
n
tu
ri
a
v
ll
a
y
te industry
h Governme
and effort,
nt control o
will: socialism
a
f
nd reindustry an
, fascism, or
d labor,––ca
communism
ll
it
w
h
a
With kindest
t you
, or by any
personal re
other name
gards,
…
Yours truly,
W.L.C. [male
]
Source: McElv
aine
, pp.150-152
36 Lessons in United States History
Not all Americans who opposed relief were wealthy.
This woman lived on a Midwestern farm.
ge
relief, old a
rk
o
w
e
th
all
int of view
remedy for
om your po
ct
fr
e
rf
se
e
o
p
p
a
p
e
su
k
elt: I
other
st seems li
Mrs. Roosev
sults, as the
nd all the re
re
a
e
ce
th
n
e
ra
se
a
e
um cl
for you to
pensions, sl
I would like
t
u
b
y,
tr
n
u
nd
is co
whose one a
the ills of th
le
p
o
e
p
f
o
this
m.
do-well class
half see the
elbows with
g
tless, neverif
in
b
sh
b
a
ru
d
n
a
e
h
ays
I have be
mising
We have alw
hout work.
the most pro
it
f
w
o
e
e
v
m
li
so
to
lp
life is
nnot help
e tried to he
only aim in
one. We ca
d
ars and hav
e
e
b
y
’t
ty
n
x
si
ca
y
all
t it
arl
uare deal is
lp them, bu
class for ne
e
sq
h
a
y
to
tr
y
o
tr
d
en others
and if they
ded: a
and have se
themselves
ver has nee
e
lp
r
e
o
h
s
d
to
e
e
y
n
tr
ill not
is country
sink…
those who w
that is all th
n canoe, or
w
y
o
a
w
ir
e
e
th
th
y
le
nd b
one padd
ney comes
they need, a
en, let each
d whose mo
n
th
a
d
s
n
d
a
o
o
ll
g
a
s
r
d
toil
fo
of this worl
square deal
art-breaking
ty
e
n
h
le
e
p
e
th
v
f
a
o
h
who
make
e no idea
…You people
ealthy], hav
re trying to
a
w
o
h
re
e
w
w
le
s
p
o
lt
ooseve
orking pe
s seems
easy [the R
lot of the w
just burden
n
e
u
th
se
is
e
h
th
ic
ll
h
a
ial w
shoulder
and self-den
n to have to
e
th
d
n
a
,
g
g of
vin
is penalizin
an honest li
th
ll
a
y
b
d
.
e
straw…
discourag
y is on
like the last
hole countr
xpayers are
w
ta
e
e
th
th
t
r
a
e
d
th
won
ness, or
…Is it any
ard shiftless
w
re
to
ry
st
du
thrift and in
chaos?
the brink of
ale]
M.A.H. [fem
d.
Columbus, In
47
aine, pp.145-1
Source: McElv
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 37
LESSON 3
37.
Dec. 14—19
d.
Columbus, In
osevelt,
Mrs. F.D. Ro
, D.C.
Washington
This excerpt is an oral history. At the beginning of the Depression,
William Benton worked at a large advertising agency. He later became
a Senator from Connecticut. He was also the publisher of Encyclopedia
Britannica.
“…We didn’t
know the Dep
Except that o
ression was g
oing on.
ur clients’ pro
ducts were plu
and they were
mmeting,
willing to talk
to us about n
They wouldn’t
e
w ideas.
have let us in
the door if tim
good. So the
e
Depression be
nefited me. M s were
doubled every
y income
year. When I
left Benton &
must have bee
Bowles, it
n close to half
a million dolla
the kind of m
rs. That’s
oney great mo
tion picture st
earning. That
ars weren’t
was 1935. Th
e Depression ju
me right over.
st passed
I’m not a good
man to talk to
Depression…
about the
…The Encyclo
p
buying, this is edia Britannica lives off inst
allment
our whole bu
siness. We d
about credit a
on’t think
s a problem, p
articularly wh
about a Depre
e
n
we think
ssion. With m
ore men out o
have an easier
f work, we’d
time finding g
ood salesmen.
men out of w
The more
ork, the more
applicants we
multiplying o
have. By
ur salesmen, w
e’d have an o
fact that there
ff
se
are fewer peop
t to the
le to whom to
ress through c
sell. Progatastrophe.”
Source: Terkel
, pp.60-65
38 Lessons in United States History
DOCUMENT 3: THE DEPRESSION IN RURAL AREAS
The collapse of the economy in 1929 happened at
the same time as a drought
that affected Americans
who lived on farms. As a
result of the Depression,
these Americans were also
in need of help. In addition, before the New Deal,
few rural areas had electric
power. The following letters were written to President Franklin D. Roosevelt
or his wife, Eleanor.
Credit: Walker Evans
(summer 1936)
Source: Library of Congress,
Prints & Photographs
Division,
FSA-OWI Collection, [LCUSF3301-031306-M5 DLC]
U.S.A.
dent of the
si
re
P
e
th
o
T
.
Washing D.C
family in
w we are a
o
n
k
u
o
y
t
le
out
ow left with
ting you to
ri
id
w
w
a
m
a
m
I
a
I
ent
attention.
Dear Presid
the proper
g
cripple.
in
tt
e
g
t
o
school he is
are n
d
in
n
a
but the
rt
u
.
h
d
e
s
e
a
N
who w
n the relief
o
y
o
re
b
a
a
e
e
w
v
a
Ih
g a long
any kind
any thang.
fuel Nothin
support of
y
t]
n
u
a
[o
t
h
e
it
g
t
w
n
le
ca
We are left
give us a litt
thang. we
y
st
n
u
a
J
s
.
u
ll
e
a
t
iv
want g
deration a
to get
people here
us any consi
ve anything
a
e
h
iv
g
’t
n
’t
o
n
d
o
e
w
ey
weeks w
ould apfood line th
food. Some
so short I w
y
u
is
b
y
e
to
n
o
h
g
M
u
eno
nd on girl
ng to wear.
money not
three boys a
d every tha
e
n
e
n
re
d
n
il
re
ch
d
il
r
I have fou
food. My ch
I can get
lp
e
h
e
th
ll
preciate a
home
and havnt a
s]
[Anonymou
nsas
Parsons Ka
Source: McElv
aine, pp.76-77
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 39
LESSON 3
Floyd Burroughs and
Tengle children, Hale
County, Alabama.
4, 1935
November 2
oosevelt:
Dear Mrs. R
g to see if
I am writin
.
u
o
y
to
g
n
I
ti
country and
asure in wri
e
le
p
th
st
in
o
e
m
v
e
li
I
if you
give me.
I will take th
t you could
need a coat
a
I
th
d
n
s
a
th
y
o
il
cl
m
y
for my fa
t them.
you have an
e glad to ge
oney to buy
b
m
l
il
h
g
w
u
I
o
n
e.
e
s
t
em
haven’t go
ilitation farm
you can giv
b
a
r
h
ta
e
re
e
sw
th
r
o
f
coat
on one o
year
have an old
en on it one
luck. We are
e
d
b
a
b
st
f
ju
o
e
t
v
lo
a
da
ear. We h
We have ha
appreciate
e food this y
m
so
e
d
grand and I
a
m
is
e
it
v
a
k
h
in
e
th
w
of
I
and
stay on it
ave a picture
h
to
u
g
o
y
in
o
If
g
l
I
il
s.
ru
and are st
do want one.
has done fo
t
re
n
e
su
d
I
si
r
re
fo
p
the
d me one
you.
every thing
ck and also
lt please sen
e
lu
v
d
se
o
o
o
o
g
R
d
r.
n
a
dM
of health
yourself an
ent the best
d
si
t it to me.
re
p
e
th
e please sen
m
e
iv
g
am wishing
n
ca
ou
any thing y
if you have
Sincerely
Mrs. J.N.T.
Athens, Ga
40 Lessons in United States History
DOCUMENT 4: THE NEW DEAL AND ELDERLY AMERICANS
Social Security poster, 1930s
Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt
Library Digital Archives
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
Mich
Mancelona,
Aug 6 1934
live I
old Father to
y
m
:
lt
d
e
n
v
a
se
e
o
o
help m
s able to
Dear Mrs. R
ed all he wa
to ask you to
u
rm
o
y
fa
r
to
o
g
d
n
te
ti
rowlan
I am wri
s and has p
is through g
n
w
rn
o
co
e
h
is
h
h
l
ic
wh
nd the
d them unti
am in a farm
ask of you a
thing to fee
o
to
n
e
k
ck
li
o
st
ld
u
y
t an
t starve
what I wo
do we havn
we could no
ns this is
e
k
so
ic
th
ch
n
o
w
m
fu
a
nt
ach
ing we have
rnace I ca
all pinsion e
fu
sm
o
C
a
e
m
v
ii
a
h
tr
I could
at the An
erty I
President if
old to work
in such pov
to
re
x
e
si
h
y
ty
a
n
e
st
sev
but
rk and to
my father is
more of this
lone for wo
te
a
ri
w
im
h
ld
u
e
v
co
a
d le
erstand:
at to do I
go away an
to know wh
ent will und
d
g
si
in
re
y
P
tr
r
d
u
e
o
rb
meaning
am so distu
the big boss
d
n
a
u
o
y
th
I think bo
Thank you
Mrs. E.R.
Michigan
Mancelona,
aine, pp.100-1
Source: McElv
01
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 41
LESSON 3
During the Depression, many elderly
Americans lost their life savings. As a
result, many called for some form of “old
age insurance” that would help elderly
Americans survive when they no longer
worked.
My Dear Mrs
Roosevelt:
Akron, Ohio
February 19
36
I thought I
would write
a letter hop
and if you th
ing you wou
ought it wa
ld find time
s
w
orth answeri
vise you wo
to read it,
ng it, I wou
uld care to
ld
g
iv
b
e
e
g
m
la
e. A few w
the air, on th
d of any ad
eeks ago, I
e subject of
heard your
the Old age
blessing it w
ta
lk
p
e
o
n
v
sion, and I g
er
ould be to m
ot to thinkin
y mother, if
pension, if th
g
w
it
h
w
a
a
t
s
a
possible for
e bill should
her to receiv
pass. My m
April 1914
e that
other has b
but she has
een in this co
never made
sixty years
u
n
tr
h
y
e
rs
since
elf a America
old when sh
n
e
C
ca
it
iz
m
e
e
n
,
h
a
ere, and now
…I thought
s she was
as long as I
she is eighty
lived there
…
ing taken ca
was no need
re of, but I
to worry ab
never dream
well it has ch
out her beed of a dep
anged the w
re
ss
ion like we
hole course
one knows b
have had
of our lives
ut our own
we have suff
family…and
to get the b
e
re
d, and no
we have had
are necessa
the awfullest
ry things in
ti
I am in no p
m
e trying
life.
osition to do
the right th
thing but he
ing for moth
r living but
er, I cant giv
I thought if
sion it would
e her anyit
w
as possible
be like a gif
for her to g
t from heav
in this coun
e
t
that penen, as in all
try she has
the years sh
never had a
e
Mrs. Roosev
h
as been
dollar of he
elt you migh
r own…
t
th
ink I have lo
you have so
ts of nerve
much to att
writing to y
end to but I
splendid wa
ou when
co
u
ld not help
y you talke
admiring yo
d about the
for all of th
u for the
old people o
em, they se
f this nation
em to be fo
they have h
I
fe
el sorry
rg
otten, and m
ad there da
o
st
y
y
o
u
a
n
n
g
d
idea, I think
people think
should be g
lad to die.
that their la
but this is
st few years
as possible…
not my
should be m
.Well whith
ade as plesa
er my moth
all the othe
n
t
for them
er ever gets
r old people
anything or
that is intilt
nothing sad
n
o
t,
e
I hope
d to it gets
der than old
it soon, beca
people who
give there fa
u
se
th
h
ere is
a
ve struggled
mily a start
hard all the
in life, then
need it most
re lives to
to be forgott
…
en, when th
ey them self
Yours Respe
ctfully,
Mrs. J.S.
Akron, Ohio
Source: McElv
aine, pp.99-10
0
42 Lessons in United States History
y,
d respectfull
Cordially an
ird, Pastor
Jesse H. Ba
h
terian Churc
First Presby
Oakland, CA
1935
October 19,
m
ri.org/index.ht
p://newdeal.fe
-htt
Deal NetworkSource: New
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 43
LESSON 3
ous
your courte
to
ly
p
re
t:
n
to
side
y I wish
n.
Dear Mr. Pre
of the natio
n of the clerg
re
re
a
th
lf
e
re
w
b
e
y
th
m
whom
ught for
Along with
ution of tho
I serve and
ib
m
tr
o
n
h
w
co
r
le
u
p
o
o
e
g
e congreong the p
letter askin
ch better am
ss in our larg
u
le
m
b
jo
re
e
a
th
s
n
f
o
er
ll
Conditio
is much bett
Practically a
n
.
o
n
ti
io
a
ct
tu
si
se
t
is
] th
mploymen
d I feel
I observe [in
ed. The une
ptimism an
y
o
lo
f
p
o
m
e
it
ir
in
sp
a
g
is a new
gation are a
passing.
unity. There
m
m
co
r
ditions are
u
n
o
t
co
u
n
o
h
io
g
ss
u
ecessary.
re
thro
aps the dep
absolutely n
rh
g
e
p
in
t
m
a
co
th
e
b
rs
ey
is
with othe
nger than th
ge pension
lo
a
rs
ld
a
o
e
y
n
a
ty
f
o
mployto live twen
Some kind
ological une
ling people
n
b
a
ch
n
e
te
is
g
n
ti
ce
n
ge is crea
ork. The
Medical scie
e machine a
people to w
h
ll
T
a
o.
r
g
a
fo
ly
ry
seeming
ey are the
did a centu
it impossible
t because th
s
rs
e
fi
k
a
t
u
m
o
h
d
e
ic
who
eez
ment wh
r my people
who are squ
fo
s
e
rd
n
o
a
h
e
is
th
re
d that it
d loose
old people a
orkers. I fin
ey are jarre
w
th
e
if
th
t
f
n
o
e
m
le
b
uality.
d reemploy
least desira
meet this act
to
of age to fin
e
rs
n
a
o
e
d
y
e
b
y
ft
the
ust
are past fi
od-speed in
omething m
G
S
u
r.
o
e
y
rd
o
id
b
ic
I
nom
possible.
from the eco
tastic and im
n
fa
is
n
la
P
nd
lternate
The Townse
ble plan.
system of a
a
t
rk
n
o
se
w
re
a
p
f
o
r
ieved. Ou
ole social
working out
must be ach
g to the wh
in
ty
z
ri
li
cu
ra
o
se
m
e
e
ic
d
Econom
not have larg
epression is
o
d
d
o
d
h
n
a
w
n
ty
o
ri
ti
spe
ur popula
cycles of pro
ast area of o
v
e
th
r
fo
ic
t….
ag
e which
ings accoun
order and tr
v
sa
a
p
e high offic
lo
e
th
v
e
d
in
to
ss
e
e
m
cc
d good su
enough inco
alth, joy an
e
h
u
o
y
g
in
….Wish
e you, I am
has been giv
DOCUMENT 5: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE DEPRESSION
African Americans were
deeply affected by the
Depression, and they benefited from much of the
New Deal. However, many
African Americans were
not able to get government
jobs or relief because of discrimination, though many
whites believed that African
Americans received most of
the relief.
Negro Man Entering Movie Theatre by “Colored” Entrance.
Belzoni, Mississippi (October 1939).
Marion Post Wolcott
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,
FSA-OWI Collection [LC-USF33-03067-M3 (8-3)]
935
,1
bama April 22
Camp Hill, Ala
the
nt to Explain
a
w
I
te
ta
sevelt I
the unite S
ple. Mr Roo
resident of
o
P
e
p
e
d
th
e
y
lt
e
lo
v
p
Mr Roose
d the unem
d all Negro
r farmer an
oney to Fee
o
o
M
p
h
e
g
u
th
o
f
n
o
e
We
ale
condition
nd clothes
a
nt has ProB
e
d
o
m
o
F
rn
e
r
o
v
o
F
g
e
suffering
ecent
know that th
ery one a D
Day they are
v
e
to
e
d
iv
n
g
a
e
to
it
h
to live
ey enough
and Poor W
has a plenty
repare Mon
p
o
h
s
a
w
h
r
e
u
o
th
y
o
ices and
know that
the relief off
y
a
People.
D
to
t
u
ing the Poor
v
a
living B
sl
d
n
a
y
this mone
on is getting
s]
[Anonymou
aine, p. 86
Source: McElv
44 Lessons in United States History
1935
October 27,
Marietta. Ga
most
e one of the
th
is
is
h
T
Majesty.
ue law
ithful and tr
our royalty.
y
fa
d
n
n
e
a
e
b
r
s
si
a
r
ca who h
ur honor
You hono
tta, Ga Yo
ers of Ameri
e
rk
ri
o
a
w
M
d
f
o
re
y
lo
o
Ive
Cit
honable C
b County &
r my living
o
fo
C
rk
is
o
th
w
f
o
to
ens
e any
d isn’t able
abiding Citiz
ven’t help m
ry feeble an
a
e
h
v
y
is
e
h
w
T
o
n
n
to suphave fail
sir I am dow
lief but now
am not able
I
re
e
n
io
th
it
y
d
b
n
o
p
needing C
r food and
been keep u
ry poor and
please sir fo
e
v
u
o
y
m
a
g
I
in
g
g
th
hite
be
in a mon
re helping w
a
you honor I
r
y
e
si
h
r
T
a
e
d
so
times
in need now
port my self
going there
very much
n
e
m
e
a
b
I
s
a
r.
h
si
r
my whife
through
raimnot dea
olored man
I am hoping
C
o
r
S
o
o
p
t.
a
e
e
m
to
anything
. So dear
but are not
at I succeed
sed give her
th
fu
re
ss
t
e
u
n
b
d
s
in
e
k
e for
after tim
will never b
natured and
ce
d
o
n
o
le
g
o
v
d
e
n
n
a
ss
d your be
ers if
your highne
Advance an
ct such matt
e
in
rr
u
o
o
C
y
g
to
in
r
k
e
n
e the pow
sir I am Tha
I know hav
r
o
F
r
e
ft
a
Adgotten here
and the food
if
le
e
R
f
o
the state
you will.
y Chest and
it
n
u
m
m
o
C
Those of the
rs.
d distributo
n
a
n
o
ti
a
tr
minis
ble
Your honora
oosevelt.
President R
Colored
etta. Ga.
Cob Co. Mari
Source: McElv
aine, pp.90-91
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 45
LESSON 3
:
nt Roosevelt
The Preside
This letter wa
s written by a
white woman
concerned ab
in the South w
out governm
ent aid for Afr
ho was
ican American
s.
[President F
ranklin D. R
oosevelt:]
[Canton, Ge
orgia
July 22, 19
35]
dear Sur as
you are the
president of
do Somethin
our State it
g to help ou
looks like y
t
th
e poor white
where the p
ou could
p
eople the ne
oor white m
g
ro
a
n
e
s
ca
can get work
not and his
Negroes are
family are o
in post offic
n
e
S
e
ta
s
rv
g
etting $100
ation. The
families Suff
0 dollars a
ering and it
month and
is not write
your family
white
just look at
in Canton G
it your Self
a there is a
white men ca
if
it was
Negro work
nt get a job
ing in the po
to feed his fa
st
ing for just S
o
ff
ic
e and
mily and a
uch as that
white woma
a
n
d
n
e
gores being
white men it
n up holdworked ever
don’t look li
where inste
ke that is ri
men where
ad of
te and is no
there is a la
t rite and la
rge family a
y
a man and
o
ff
white
nd keep men
wife and bo
with big farm
th at work
poor people
s
a
n
u
d
n
just
less there a
will pursh to
re somethin
death will
g
out this reli
d
o
n
e
the
you please
ef work is n
help the po
ot helping th
them that u
o
r people
e poor out ju
ses the pick
st make $3
and Shovel
0
the rest the
0
a week
and the offic
re is to man
e
m
e
n
y
a
n
in
d
office for th
woman gets
pay. Rote b
e poor work
y a woman
ing man to
that has a la
get any
rge family a
nd is on Suff
erence
Source: McElv
aine, p. 94
46 Lessons in United States History
[Anonymou
s]
DOCUMENT 6: THE DEPRESSION AND THE CITY
work. The factory closings
and business failures deeply
affected urban workers,
especially since there was
no federal unemployment
program.
LESSON 3
In the late nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries, many Americans
moved to cities to find
The Unemployed Union: marchers south on Broadway in Camden, NJ
Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Digital Archives
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal
47
Many New Yo
rkers found th
at they could
so they inven
no
ted “rent part
ies.” In this in t afford their high rents,
worker in 193
terview, cond
8, a woman n
ucted by a W
amed Bernice
were popular
PA
describes the
in Harlem.
parties, which
When I first ca
me to New York
disgraceful. I c
from Bermuda
ouldn’t unders
, I thought ren
tand how any
t-parties were
them, but wh
se
lf
en my husban
-respecting pe
rs
d
,
o
n could bear
wh
me with a sixty
-dollar-a-month o was a Pullman porter, ra
n off and left
learned, like e
apartment on
veryone else, to
my hands and
no job, I soon
rent my room
get-togethers.
s out an’ throw
th
ese Saturday
I had two room
e
rs
,
a
c
o
lo
re
d
who first gave
b
me the idea. T oy and white girl named Lero
hey offered to
y and Hazel,
split fifty-fifty.
run the partie
I had nothing
s for me if we
to lose
We bought co
’d
rn liquor by th , so that’s how we started.
(cream) pitch
e
g
a
ll
o
n and sold it
er. Leroy also
for fifty cents
ran a poker a
bedroom off th
a small
nd black-jack
e kitchen. An’
game in the li
on these two g
as much as tw
ttle
ames alone, I’v
enty-eight doll
e seen him tak
ars in one nigh
want to give it
e in
t. Well, you ca
up, once we h
n see why I did
ad started. Esp
six or seven do
n’t
ecially si
llars a
The games paid t the most as weekly part-tim nce I could only make
e worker (dom
us both so well
specialty. Every
estic).
, in fact, that w
body liked it,
e
so
o
n
m
a
d
e gambling ou
and our profit
soon became th
r
was more that
e hangout of a
w
a
y so our place
ll
gambling with
those party-go
their drinking
ers who liked
to mix a little
and dancing.
Bernice, New
York City (Oc
tober 2, 1938)
Source
: Library of Con
gress, Manus
cript
Division, WPA
Mich
Battle Creek
6
April 5, 193
osevelt:
o
R
President
Federal Writer
s’ Project Col
lection
an citizen to
e an Americ
k
li
el
fe
s
u
s are
kes
and the fund
gram. It ma
zy
ro
p
la
.
s
u
.A
.P
es
W
k
ue this
ef roll ma
ough.
Please contin
e dole or reli
th
n
o
g
n
we receive th
ei
t
B
a
h
.
g
w
r
in
v
fo
li
l
n
our Great
kfu
earn our ow
We are than
l to you as
.
ea
n
p
o
p
t
a
,
en
n
a
ec
d
ig
live
higan.
Creek Mich
not enough to
le Creek Mic
tt
s in Battle
a
er
B
rk
in
o
s
w
n
.
ze
.A
.P
Better citi
So we as W
at cause for
re
g
is
th
e
u
n
nti
Leader to co
l,
Your Faithfu
reek
s of Battle C
W.P.A. worker
aine, p. 127
Source: McElv
48 Lessons in United States History
Manuscrip
y of Congress,
Source: Librar
t Division, WPA
Fe
Creating Economic Citizenship: The Depression and The New Deal 49
LESSON 3
ouse
9, a packingh
3
9
1
in
r
e
rk
o
g. A
PA w
ducted by a W rban workers had unionizin
n
o
c
,
w
ie
rv
te
, and
that u
In this in
the difficulty
tered, packed
t
h
u
g
o
u
a
b
a
sl
s
is
lk
k
ta
c
o
r
livest
worke
a place where
is
se
u
o
h
g
in
k
pac
res.
shipped to sto
s rest. For ‘sam
a
e
m
sa
r
e
rk
o
art
ican w
button they st
ever treat Mex
e
n
s
th
’
rd
n
a
ri
y
a
e
e
th
w
rt
in
ce I sta
The bosses
, well, ever sin
e
.
m
’
n
ti
a
e
tr
n
e
ar CIO button
e
w
to
t
from fellow
ple, they be
rs
ip
fi
sl
s
a
ff
w
-o
I
id
s.
la
te
t
a
e
Ig
min
to pick an’ ‘scri orer. Get 62 1/2 cents hour.
Now I work as
.
e
ic
ff
o
t
n
e
m
b
y
emplo
orer,
I start in as la
at’s how I get in r. Work is heavier than lab
th
,
n
w
to
e
v
a
’ floo
who has to le
beef on cuttin
e
th
’t
in
y
rr
a
c
beef lugger,
on account of
e
m
d
re
fi
y
e
b. Th
as
make 72 hour.
on’t give me jo s on the gang. I was acting
w
y
e
th
t
u
b
r,
e boy
boys
I can butche
rted organize th ed up and I was advisin’ the
a
st
I
.
e
m
ti
e
n
spe
r them
CIO union o
e had so much
ave a union fo
W
h
.
e
n
w
io
n
s
y
u
o
b
IO
e
C
th
steward for
start tellin’
time what the
I
e
n
th
e
h
ll
a
w
lk
so
ta
d
n
e
da
y. So w
tch
to cut the spee
join right awa
’ the bosses wa
n
ll
a
a
,
p
s’
o
-u
d
lm
e
A
e
.
sp
p
stop
they all join u
in’ raise wages,
o
g
s,
u
r
fo
o
d
in’ up
union goin’ to
hey start speed
n [comin’?].
T
io
.
n
u
rk
o
a
w
s
’
e
it
th
w
o
in
behin’
an’ they kn
start sayin’ we
y
e
th
y
a
d
is.
ry
e
So ev
eed-up like th
ery day.
sp
v
e
n
o
re
p
o
e
e
m
’
k
n
’t
a
n
hole
o? Ca
the boys more
t you gonna d
keep up. The w
a
’t
h
n
w
a
,
c
e
,
m
st
fa
sk
o
a
The boys
standin’ for
e workin’ to
’t
w
s
in
e
a
ss
e
o
w
b
l’
y,
o
sa
T
’
.
page
k
ome an
We made stop
stop. Bosses c
pt 2. So we too
e
ll
c
a
x
e
y
,
e
g
n
th
a
,
g
n
e
le
m
e who
say
gang, thirteen
later they fire th oys for witness. Labor board
s
y
a
d
4
o
S
.
is
eb
they
nothin’ like th
and they call th
ack as soon as
rd
b
a
s
o
u
b
t
r
u
o
p
b
la
to
e
e
rk.
promis
the case in th
red. All got wo men
k. Boss got to
c
fi
a
s
b
a
s
w
b
o
jo
h
t
w
e
g
rk
the
ll wo
we got to
ack, but now a
et ready, before make
g
sl
s
a
IO
w
C
e
re
m
fo
ti
e
t
b
a
rk, to
e strike
can. Th
ment about wo lk back,
u
s try to provok
e
rg
a
ss
o
in
b
t
e
e
g
th
to
w
o
N
on’t ta
ays try
t they do, we d
o. Foremen alw
a
d
h
to
w
t
a
w
h
o
n
w
k
w
e
o
kn
ork. W
so they quit w
at.
the boys mad
lay trick like th
p
’t
n
o
d
y
e
th
t
u
got to watch o
hicago, Illinois
C
in
r
e
rk
o
w
ackinghouse
/39)
- Jesse Perez, p
Burke on 6/21
y
tt
e
B
y
b
d
e
ion.
w
(intervie
Project Collect
deral Writers’