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Depression Repatriation Efforts Begins
The comic depicts Uncle Sam as a "pied piper" for rats who are labeled as "gangsters", and are being chased out by the local citizens. During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of Mexican, European, and Asian Americans were pushed out of the United States through deportation or pressure from their peers as governments coerced immigrants to return to their original country. These immigrants were competing against white Americans for jobs, which led to widespread discrimination and hate. -
Hoover is Inaugurated
Herbert Hoover is inaugurated as president on March 4, 1929, under the Republican Party. Under the belief that the prosperity of the 1920s would continue forever, he persuaded the country that the future is full of opportunity and hope. However, when the Great Depression first hit, President Hoover failed to effectively resolve the crisis, partially due to his belief in rugged individualism. By the end of his first tenure as president, he was widely unpopular and was switched out for FDR. -
Black Thursday
Black Thursday marked the beginning of the Stock Market Crash of 1929, with investors selling overpriced shares at such high quantities that stock prices began to fall. A record of 12.9 million shares was traded that day, and this was followed up by Black Tuesday on October 29th, where 16 million shares were traded. -
Black Tuesday
Today, stock prices have collapsed completely. I lost all my shares in financial companies at the New York Stock Exchange, and the market has dropped by 12 percent! This is the beginning of the end. #the20sareover #WallStreetCrash -
Smoot Hawley Tariff Act
The comic depicts the Smoot Hawley Tariff that raised taxes on foreign imports in order to boost the domestic market during the depression. However, unsold American products could not be sold to other countries that raised taxes on foreign imports, and manufacturers and farms could not buy equipment from other countries. As a result, it was disastrous to the global economy and harmed American producers. -
Map of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
On September 18, 1931, Japan invades Manchuria in violation of the Kellogg Briand Pact. The invasion ended in February 1932, and the Japanese state of Manchukuo was established. The map shows the extent of the invasion and areas under Japanese control by the end of the war in 1932. -
Bonus Army March and Hoovervilles Pop Up
(click on image for full view) America's proud veterans of the Great War are being betrayed by their government that would not provide them with their bonus. So thousands of them settle outside the front lawns of the Capital until they get their pay. Our heroes do not deserve this! #bonusarmy #PassthePatmanBonusBill -
Bonus Army Eviction
(Click on image for full view) How despicable, the government first betrays her warriors by leaving them penniless. And now she brings other troops to beat them to the ground in submission. How despicable! justicefortheBonusArmy #HooverHate -
Out With Hoover, In Comes Another Roosevelt!
Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the Democratic Party won the 1932 presidential election with hopes of turning the Great Depression around for America. -
The 20th Amendment: Passing Crutches to the Lame Duck!
The newest amendment passed by Congress today will shorten the period the previous President remains in office after the new president is elected. -
Tennessee Valley Authority Established
The Tennessee Valley Authority Act was signed by President Roosevelt on May 18, 1933, to establish the Tennessee Valley Authority as a federal corporation. The Tennessee Valley Authority created new dams that controlled floods and provided electricity to homes and businesses throughout the valley while creating new jobs. The map shows the numerous dams and reservoirs the Tennessee Valley Authority built during the Depression, highlighting the extent of Roosevelt's efforts. -
National Recovery Administration (NRA) Established
In an effort to combine immediate relief and long-term recovery and reform, the National Recovery Administration was established an agency that aimed to spread more work to individuals by setting maximum hours and minimum wages. The National Recovery Administration also guaranteed laborers a right to collective bargaining, or the right to negotiate their wages and other conditions of employment to their employers, and prevented child labor. -
21st Amendment, Prohibition Repealed
Farewell Prohibition, hello alcohol! Now that the bloody 18th Amendment is repealed, I can finally head down to the bar with my chaps for a good old beer! #thankthe21st #drinksonme! -
The End of All Stock Crashes?
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was established today to enforce the law against marketing abuse while monitoring stock transactions. The SEC will prevent fraud in the Stock Market from occurring in the future. -
Black Sunday Dust Bowl
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Works Progress Administration (WPA) Is Established
The Works Progress Administration was formed on May 6, 1935, to employ millions of unemployed workers in public works projects such as roads and public buildings. More than 620,000 miles of streets, 10,000 bridges, 800 airports, and 200 dams were created by the WPA. -
The National Labor Relations Act (or Wagner Act) Is Passed
On July 5, 1935, the National Labor Relations Act, otherwise known as the Wagner Act, is passed that guaranteed the right of employees to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and conduct strikes. This was seen as highly controversial by conservatives and Republicans who viewed it as a socialist movement that would hurt businesses. -
The First Social Security Number Rolls Out!
John David Sweeney Jr. of New Rochelle, New York, became the first recorded citizen of the United States to have a social security number. Social Security has been created to protect the aged and disabled from further expenses. -
Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937
In the comic, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is nominating Supreme Court Justices who all say "yes". The comic is showing the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 which planned to add six new justices to the nine-member Supreme Court who would pass his New Deal proposals. Many opponents called this action "court packing", and accused FDR of trying to increase his presidential power. However, FDR decided to not pack the court after Justice Owen J. Roberts began to vote for FDR's reforms. -
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 Is Passed
On June 25th, 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act is passed that creates a right to a minimum wage and overtime pay when people work more than forty hours a week. The Act also prohibits "oppressive child labor" and sets a minimum working age of 16 except in certain industries.