Transcript Brother, Can You Spare a Dime

Causes of the Great Depression (1929-1940)
Income disparity and over-production/under-consumption
1.

The US economy was producing more goods than it could consume (Roaring 20’s!)
Most people were not wealthy enough to consume massive amounts, wages for
most were too low to consume.
Massive debt/Irresponsible financial policies
2.

Banks were lending out more money than they actually had (banks crashed and
closed/massive deflation). The small federal government of the 1920’s let
businesses spin out of control (Republicans Coolidge and Harding).
Foreign trade policy
3.

WWI destabilized European economy, US did nothing to stabilize it, cut ourselves
off from foreign trade (Hawley-Smoot Tariff made things worse)
Aging Infrastructure
4.

The railroads, roads, bridges and building of the US were old and made transportation and
costs of doing business more than they should have been.
Agricultural Failures
5.

Farmer’s prices had been dropping for several decades, farmers responded by
producing more causing financial and environmental disasters.
Enduring the Great Depression
Identify the ways in which the Great Depression impacted
men and women and compare and contrast each genders
experiences.
 Whenever you compare and contrast, identify and focus
on key issues/ideas to focus your analysis.
 For the evidence we are about to look at, identify the
issues on the left of you notes, on the right describe the
experience of either men or women.
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)
They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?
Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Who do you think the Great Depression was worse for?
1. Men 521364
2. Women 521365