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J.Edgar Hoover Becomes Head of the FBI
J. Edgar Hoover became the head of the FBI in 1924, a role he would hold for nearly five decades. This event was significant to the 1930s as Hoover restructured the FBI, implementing modern investigative techniques, expanding its authority, and shaping it into a powerful federal agency that helped the government address rising crime rates and internal threats during the Great Depression. -
Mein Kampf is Published
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Stock Market Crash Begins Great Depression
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression, a global economic crisis that defined the 1930s and further into the future. This event was significant as it led to widespread unemployment, bank failures, financial instability, and poverty in the United States and much of the globe, prompting major government reforms, such as the New Deal in the United States. -
The Dust Bowl Begins
The Dust Bowl, a period of severe dust storms that devastated farmlands across the Great Plains of the United States, began in the early 1930s, caused by a combination of severe drought and poor farming techniques that eroded the topsoil in the Great Plains. This event was significant to the 1930s as it led to widespread agricultural failure, worsened economic hardships during the Great Depression, and forced mass migration from rural areas to cities and even other states. -
Franklin Roosevelt is Elected President (1st Time)
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Adolf Hitler Become Chancellor of Germany
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CCC is Created
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal to combat the high unemployment caused by the Great Depression. This program was important to the 1930s because it provided jobs for young men, helped revitalize the economy, and led to significant improvements in public lands and natural resource conservation across the country. -
WPA is Created
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, aimed at providing employment during the Great Depression. This event was significant to the 1930s as it helped stimulate the economy, reduced unemployment, and funded public works projects such as roads, bridges, and schools, contributing to the nation's recovery from economic collapse during the Great Depression. -
J.J. Braddock Wins Heavyweight Boxing Title
J.J. Braddock's winning of the Heavyweight Boxing Title was when he defeated Max Baer, the former winner of the Heavyweight Boxing Title. This event was significant to the 1930s as it inspired millions struggling through the Great Depression and made Braddock the 'Cinderella Man' a symbol of hope, showing that even in tough times, success and triumph were possible through hard work and determination. -
Olympic Games in Berlin
The Olympic Games in Berlin, held in 1936, were a global sporting event hosted by Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler's regime. This event was significant to the 1930s as it was used by the Nazi government as a propaganda tool to showcase the strength and unity of the Third Reich, while also being significant as the victories of Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete, directly challenged the Nazi ideology of racial superiority. -
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also known as the "Night of Broken Glass," was when Nazi-led mobs destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Nazi Germany and Austria. This event was significant to the 1930s because it marked a shift from discriminatory policies towards widespread violence against Jewish people, forcing them to flee the country and signaling an escalation towards the Holocaust. -
Grapes of Wrath is Published
The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939 by John Steinbeck, is a novel that depicts the hardships faced by migrant families during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. This publication is significant to the 1930s as it highlighted the social and economic struggles of the time, bringing attention to the plight of the poor and influencing public perception of poverty and inequality in America, helping to influence important policy during a harsh period in the country's history. -
Wizard of Oz Premiers in Movie Theaters
The Wizard of Oz premiered in 1939, marking a major milestone in cinematic history with its innovative use of technicolor and special effects. This event was significant to the 1930s as it provided a sense of hope through its storytelling as well as an escape during the harsh times of the Great Depression, becoming a cultural icon, influencing popular culture for generations, and showcasing the advancement of the film industry during a challenging economic period. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, was the event that sparked the beginning of World War II, as Britain and France declared war on Germany shortly after. This event was significant to the 1930s as it demonstrated the aggressive expansionism of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the failure of appeasement policies, and showcased the effectiveness of Germany's blitzkrieg tactics, setting the stage for the global conflict that followed. -
The Four Freedoms Speech
The Four Freedoms Speech delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt was where he outlined four fundamental freedoms that he believed everyone should have: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. This speech was significant to the 1930s as it reflected growing concerns about global instability and the rise of totalitarian regimes while setting the groundwork for America's eventual involvement in World War II through the defense of democratic values.