The Great Depression Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 4 PDF Download

Introduction

The Great Depression

Part I

• The Great Depression started in 1929due to a major event.
  • It began after the stock market crashed, causing many people to lose their money.
  • The stock market is a place where people buy and sell shares of companies.
  • When the stock market crashed, the value of shares dropped suddenly.
• Banks faced serious problems during this time.
  • Many banks closed because people could not pay back their loans.
  • Banks ran out of money, and people lost their savings.
• Businesses and factories struggled.
  • Factories and businesses shut down because they could not sell their products.
  • Many workers lost their jobs since businesses could not pay them.
  • By 1933, about one out of every four workers in the United States was jobless.
• Families faced hardships in their daily lives.
  • People struggled to buy food, clothes, and other necessities.
  • Some families could not pay rent or home loans and lost their houses.
  • Many families moved to cheaper places or lived with relatives to save money.
• Farmers were also affected badly.
  • Farmers could not sell their crops for enough money to survive.
  • Some farmers lost their land because they could not pay their debts.
• The Great Depression was a widespread problem.
  • It affected cities, towns, and farms across the United States.
  • It also impacted other countries around the world.

Part II

• People struggled to get food and shelter.
  • Many stood in long lines at soup kitchens to get free food.
  • Soup kitchens were run by charities or churches to feed hungry people.
  • Some people lived in shantytowns, which were poor neighborhoods made of shacks.
  • Shantytowns were often called "Hoovervilles" because people blamed President Herbert Hoover.
• Children and families had to make tough choices.
  • Some children stopped going to school to help their families by working or begging.
  • Families saved money by growing their own food or making clothes.
• Many people traveled to find work.
  • People called hobos traveled across the country, often riding trains without tickets.
  • These travelers faced many dangers while looking for jobs.
• The Dust Bowl made things worse for farmers.
  • The Dust Bowl happened in the Great Plains during the 1930s.
  • It was caused by drought and poor farming methods, turning farmland into dust.
  • Huge dust storms blew away soil and ruined crops.
  • Many farmers left their homes and moved to places like California to find work.
• Communities tried to help each other.
  • People shared food, clothes, and other items with those in need.
  • Despite the tough times, communities worked together to support one another.

The New Deal

• President Franklin D. Rooseveltintroduced the New Deal in 1933.
  • The New Deal was a set of programs to help people during the Great Depression.
  • It aimed to create jobs and support families in need.
• The New Deal created jobs through special programs.
  • The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) gave jobs to young men.
  • CCC workers planted trees, built parks, and improved public lands.
  • The Works Progress Administration (WPA) gave jobs to millions of people.
  • The WPA built roads, bridges, schools, and other buildings still used today.
• The New Deal helped farmers.
  • Programs paid farmers to grow fewer crops, which helped raise crop prices.
  • This made it easier for farmers to earn money.
• The Social Security Act was an important part of the New Deal.
  • It gave money to older people who could not work anymore.
  • It also helped people who were unable to work due to disabilities.
• The New Deal made banks safer.
  • New laws were created to protect people’s savings in banks.
  • These laws helped make sure banks would not close suddenly again.
• President Roosevelt communicated with the people.
  • He used radio talks called "fireside chats" to explain the New Deal.
  • These talks helped people feel more hopeful about the future.
• The New Deal had a big impact.
  • It did not end the Great Depression, but it helped many people find jobs.
  • It gave people hope and made the government more active in helping during tough times.
  • Some New Deal programs gave food and clothes to those who needed them.