The Great Depression in America

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What event marked the beginning of the Great Depression in the United States?

The stock market crash on October 29, 1929, also known as Black Tuesday.

Which president was in office at the start of the Great Depression?

Herbert Hoover.

What was the name of the economic program introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression?

The New Deal.

What were 'Hoovervilles'?

Makeshift shantytowns built by homeless people during the Great Depression.

What was the Dust Bowl?

A series of severe dust storms that affected the American Great Plains during the 1930s.

How did the Great Depression affect employment in the United States?

Unemployment rates soared, reaching about 25% at the peak of the crisis.

What government program was established to provide employment through public works projects?

The Works Progress Administration (WPA).

What was the purpose of the Social Security Act of 1935?

To provide financial assistance to the elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged Americans.

What role did the Federal Reserve play during the Great Depression?

Critics argue that the Federal Reserve's tight monetary policy worsened the depression.

What was the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression?

It was a program that provided jobs in environmental conservation projects to young men.

What significant literature piece captured the struggles of Americans during the Great Depression?

'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck.

How did banks contribute to the depth of the Great Depression?

Bank failures led to a severe reduction in savings and consumer spending.

What area of the U.S. was primarily affected by the Dust Bowl?

The southern Great Plains.

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act?

An act that raised U.S. tariffs on imported goods, which worsened international trade.

What initiative was introduced to encourage homeownership?

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), established to improve housing standards and conditions.