Depression isn’t just a state of mind – it’s a significant event in history that shaped our world as we know it. In this article, we’ve gathered 25 fascinating facts about the Great Depression that will make you grateful for your current economic situation. Get ready to have your mind blown!
1-5 Awesome Facts About Great Depression
1. Milton Hershey, the chocolate magnate, launched a “Great Building Campaign” during the Great Depression to employ more people. When he learned that a steam shovel could do the work of 40 men, he instructed his foreman to hire 40 men instead.
2. During the Great Depression, the Twin popsicle was developed so that two kids could share a treat for just five cents.
3. Charles Floyd, also known as “Pretty Boy,” a notorious bank robber and gangster, earned public affection during the Great Depression by destroying mortgage papers at the banks he robbed, freeing many from their debts.
4. Popcorn became popular during the Great Depression due to its affordability.
5. John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest American of all time, was known for his philanthropy. He would give a dime to children wherever he went, but during the Great Depression, he started giving nickels instead.
6-10 Interesting Facts About The Great Depression
6. Over 1.2 million US citizens of Mexican descent were deported from the United States between 1929-1939 by federal authorities, claiming that it would create job vacancies for “real Americans” during the Great Depression.
7. People in Cameroon managed to collect $3.77 for a food relief fund during the Great Depression, which they sent to New York.
8. To attract tourists and generate revenue during the Great Depression, some Chinese communities embraced stereotypes by adding fake opium dens and other Chinese stereotypes to Chinatowns.
9. During the Great Depression in 1930, Canada experienced zero bank failures, a stark contrast to the over 9,000 failed banks in the United States.
10. Canned crow meat was introduced for the first time during the Great Depression and attempted to make its way onto American dinner tables.
11-15 Shocking Facts About Great Depression
11. Canadian Prime Minister R.B. Bennett showed compassion during the Great Depression by sending $5 to anyone who sent him a letter, ultimately spending around 2.3 million dollars during that time.
12. In 2013, Spain had an unemployment rate of 27.2%, exceeding the rate of 25% in the US during the Great Depression.
13. Jigsaw puzzles became a popular form of entertainment during the Great Depression as they provided an affordable, long-lasting, and recyclable form of entertainment.
14. To save money during the Great Depression, Canadians who could not afford gasoline would remove the engines from their cars and hitch horses to them.
15. Al Capone, the infamous American gangster, established one of the first free soup kitchens during the Great Depression to provide food for those in need.
16-20 Insane Facts About Great Depression
16. Radio ownership skyrocketed during the Great Depression, with nearly 40% of families owning a radio. Popular radio shows included Amos ‘n’ Andy, Burns and Allen, The Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes, Buck Rogers, and The Shadow, providing families with a source of entertainment during difficult times.
17. During the Great Depression, nearly 50% of children in the United States did not have enough food, proper housing, or adequate healthcare, highlighting the severe impact of the economic crisis on vulnerable populations.
18. On “Black Tuesday,” October 29, 1929, the stock market lost a staggering $14 billion, resulting in a total loss of $30 billion for that week. This amount was ten times more than the annual federal budget at that time and far exceeded the amount spent by the U.S. during World War I. In today’s dollars, $30 billion would be equivalent to $377,587,032,770.41.
19. The stock market crash in 1929 led to a wave of suicides in New York’s financial district, with reports of clerks at a hotel asking new guests if they needed a room for sleeping or jumping, illustrating the emotional toll of the economic downturn.
20. Despite the economic challenges, during the Great Depression, a record 60-80 million Americans went to the movies every week, with films like “King Kong” (1933), “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), and “Gone with the Wind” (1939) becoming popular blockbusters.
21-25 Surprising Facts About Great Depression
21. One of the most famous demonstrations during the Great Depression was the “Bonus Army,” which consisted largely of World War I veterans who requested early payment of financial bonuses scheduled for 1945 to be paid in 1932. The U.S. Army was eventually called in to disperse the protesters.
22. While the Great Depression affected the majority of the country, up to 40% of the population did not face severe economic hardship during those years.
23. The stock market lost approximately 90% of its value between 1929 and 1933, and it took 25 years for it to fully recover.
24. During the Great Depression, nearly 1.5 million men in the United States left their families, leaving wives and children to fend for themselves due to financial difficulties.
25. To bring books to children in remote areas, during the Great Depression, librarians known as “pack horse librarians” would ride horses to deliver library books.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 25 Fun Facts About Great Depression.
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