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The Great Depression
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- In later years, what was the first thing that came into her mind when she heard the word "Depression"? What feelings and memories did this word bring back?
- Did her family or friends invest in the stock market? Did she or anyone she knew lose money in the stock market? What did this money loss mean?
- How quickly were the effects of the stock market crash felt in her household, if at all? Did she notice what was happening because of the effects it had on her family or because of the effects it had on others?
- Did she experience bank panics? What happened at these times? Did she lose money or was she unable to get use of her money because of a panic?
- What did she have to do without during the Depression? New clothes? Money for entertainment? Meat? Or was her family still fairly comfortable?
- How did she feel when she became aware of the magnitude of the economic difficulties? Was she afraid for herself and her family or was she confident that she would make it through? How did her expectations measure up to reality?
- About 25% of the work force was unemployed at the height of the Depression. How were her family and friends affected in this aspect? Were they out of jobs for extended periods of time or did they have steady work?
- Without steady work, what was done to get money? Did she have to sell any of her possessions? How did it feel to do this? Was it hard to part with some items or was she just happy to have the money? What was sold first?
- Did her family move to find work in another part of the state or country? If so, were they successful? How did it feel to face the unknown?
- Did her family move in with relatives or did she take in relatives who were having difficulties? What was it like having extra people in the household? Was there any resentment among the different family members?
- Did she or anyone she knew become homeless? What happened? Did she or they move into a "Hooverville"? What were the conditions there? What was the mood of the inhabitants?
- What did her family think about accepting or giving charity? Did they not like to accept help from others? Did they think that people should fend for themselves? Were they happy to give or receive what they could?
- Even during the height of the Depression, many people who could scrape together enough money still went to the movies. Did she do this? Why? Was it a way to escape reality?
- In later years, what did she remember about the movie stars of the era? Did they seem as glamorous then as we tend to characterize them now? Did she or others resent their lifestyles when so many people were desperately poor?
- How were holidays celebrated during the Depression? Did she still eat special foods or give and receive gifts when appropriate? Did they pass by without anyone noticing? How had the mood changed?
- What did she think were some of the major causes of the Depression? Did she think that it was caused by over-speculation in the stock market or bad bank loans? What else might have added to the problems?
- Why did she think that it lasted for so long? Were the policies of Hoover and FDR effective or ineffective? What would she have done in the President's place?
- What were her opinions of Hoover and his policies? What was he doing right and what was he doing wrong?
- Did she think that FDR would do a better job than Hoover? Why or why not?
- Before the stock market crashed, were people generally optimistic about the future? How long was it after the Depression before optimism returned?
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