Great Depression Timeline

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Stock Market Crash

10/24/1929

The day the stock market crashed. Seen as the beginning of the Great Depression in the United States.

Roosevelt elected President

November 1932

The 37th election of the President, Roosevelt won as a Democrat. He ran against the widely dislike incumbent, Hoover, and won in a record landslide. Winning many states that would have otherwise voted Republican.

Roosevelt gives inaugural address

3/4/1933

One of Roosevelts most famous speeches, it was the introduction to the start of his historical presidency. It was when he said the famous line, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Reconstruction Finance Corporation created

3/5/1933

The RFC was created to aid state and local governements, banks, mortgages, as well as railroads. It gave over $2 billion dollars in loans, nearly all of which were repaid.

Roosevelt declares "bank holiday"

3/5/1933

Made as a day to give banks a break from all the chaos of the Depression. Banking transactions frome March 6th to March 10th were suspended while Congress passed the Emergency banking act.

Emergency Banking Act

3/9/1933

The Emergency Banking Act federalized the banking system in the US. A series of provisions existed including requiring banks to register with the Federal Reserve. The goal of the act was to stabilize the banks in the US to lessen the depression.

Roosevelt gives his first fireside chat

3/12/1933

Roosevelt made his first public appearance on the radio, talking directly to the people of America. He did it to raise moral nationwide and give the people faith that he will succeed in his promises.

Civilian Conservation Corp

3/31/1933

The Civilian Conservation Corp was a work relief program created to give relief to you men who were unmarried, and unemployed. It employed them for manual labor to conserve and develop natural resources.

Tennessee Valley Authority

May 1933

The Tennessee Valley Authority was created to regulate navigation, water, and electrify in the Tennessee Valley area that was particularly affected by the Depression.

Agricultural Adjustment Administration

5/12/1933

The AAA was made into law as part of the New Deal era. It gave farmers money to not plant on portions of land and kill off excess livestock. They did this so to prevent more destroying of land by the farmers in the southern plains.

Federal Emergency Relief Administration

5/12/1933

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration is the new name given the the Emergency Relief Administration that was created by Hoover, FERA was created by FDR. It gave money to states so they could fund their own relief programs.

National Recovery Act

June 1933

The National Recovery Act was created to eliminate competition in industry, labor and government. It's goal was to set standard prices and codes.

Public Works Administration

June 1933

The PWA created large public works such as schools, bridges, roads and dams. It raised national pride and is still in progress 70 years later.

National Industrial Recovery Act

6/16/1933

The National Industrial Recovery Act was created to reduce deflation and stimulate economic recovery. It created programs such as the Public Works Administration, and the National Recovery Administration.

12.6 Million Unemployed

July, 1933

The low point of the Great Depression, almost a quarter of the US population was unemployed. Around that time, FDR came into and started turning the country around with his New Deal.

Indian Reorganization Act

1934

The Indian Reorganization Act was part of the New Deal. It's goal was to secure certain rights for Native Americans, and reverse some parts of the Dawe's plan.

National Labor Relations Act

1935

The National Labor Relations act was made to secure certain of workers in the US. It allowed workers to organize into trade unions so as to protect their jobs. It allowed collective bargaining with unions by employers.

Dust Bowl storms at their worst

April 1935

The Dust Bowl was the worst human caused disaster in history. It affected millions of Americans across the mid-southwestern United States. Giant storms of dust would cover everything in dirt, killing anyone who wasn't safe.

Works Progress Administration

April 1935

The Works Progress Administration was made to employ Americans. It gave work to mostly unskilled workers to build public works projects. It was the largest New Deal Program.

Emergency Relief Appropriation Act

4/8/1935

The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act allowed for other government programs to be created. Especially the Works Progress Administration.

Social Security Act

August 1935

Socials Security was a program to give Americans money after they have retired. Over citizens lifetimes, portions of their incomes go towards a account that can only be accessed after retirement.

Boulder Dam completed

1936

Also called the Hoover Dam, the Boulder Dam was one of the largest engineering projects in history. Started by President Hoover, the dam stopped the Colorado and created power for Cities all over the south west.

Resettlement Administration

1937

The Resettlement Administration helped rural and urban families who were struggling to move to federally planned communities.