The United States in 1940

Mr. White’s US History 1

The Great Depression 1930s dominated

by the Great Depression

1929 – Stock Market crashes

25% of population unemployed

Banks and businesses close

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal

President in 1930s is Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Sets up New Deal programs to end Depression

Government creates jobs and social services to help people and stimulate the economy

Country slowly starts to pull out of Depression

Demographics Population of

Country: 123 million

Life expectancy: Male, 58.1, Female, 61.6

Average salary: $1,368

Car sales: 2,787,400

Prices: Milk, 14 cents; bread, 9 cents; steak, 42 cents a pound

Country is still predominantly rural

Art Art reflected the

Great Depression with its themes and depictions

“American Gothic”, by Grant Wood

How might this painting reflect the Great Depression?

Art – Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks”

Architecture Many of the

nation’s most memorable skyscrapers were built

Empire State Building (at left)

Chrysler Building Rockefeller Center

Education Money in short

supply; many parents couldn’t get school supplies for students

Some schools started charging tuition

Many children didn’t get the education they needed

Women’s fashion in the 1920s 1920s fashion had

reduced the appearance of the female form

Hair was cut into short “bob” styles; used finger waves and Marcel waves

Women almost had the appearance of looking like young boys

Women’s fashion in the 1930s

1930s and early 1940s women’s fashion brought back female form

Gretta Garbo (left) was imitated around the world

Men’s fashion in the late 1930s

Fitted single- or double-breasted jacket

Pants were straight, wide, and high-waisted

Colors were grays, light browns, light blue

Hats were a must, but were removed indoors!

Today’s business wear has its beginnings here

Music of the Late 1930s and Early 1940s “Big Band” sound

dominated the popular music scene for young people

Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington

Most music for dancing; jitterbug, Lindy hop – “swing dancing”

Cars of the 1930s 1930s considered the

age of “classic” cars Fully-closed bodies

start to become standard; previously cars had been open to the air

Ford introduces the flathead V-8 engine, which is a big step forward for engines

Science and Technology NY “World’s Fair”

showcased new science and technology such as cross-country highways and the new invention, television

Scientific research was cut short for lack of money because of Depression

Albert Einstein came to United States in 1933 and started helping develop the atomic bomb

Pluto discovered and become a planet in 1930 (but it isn’t anymore :-(

Trouble in Europe By 1939, Europe

is entering a second world war

US citizens want to stay neutral, prefer isolationism

Many Americans saw this as Europe’s problem and didn’t want to get pulled in

Trouble in the Pacific Empire of Japan

rapidly taking over islands in Pacific

Also invading China and other Asian countries

Still, US wasn’t worried; had relatively good relations with Japan

No Worries In Sight Most in US not

worried about war in Europe or the Pacific

US largely unprepared for war

General feeling of safety in United States