TEXAS HISTORY

Chapter 22The Great Depression

Stock Market Crash The stock market crashed in

October of 1929 and the Great Depression began.

Factories closed, creating widespread unemployment.

Unemployed people could not buy products so even more factories closed.

“Dad” Joiner A wildcatter named “Dad” Joiner

drilled an oil well in northern Rusk County. That well was the first well of the East Texas Oil Field.

The Dust Bowl High Plains farmers plowed grasses

under so there was nothing to hold the soil in place when the wind blew.

A severe drought in the 1930’s added to this problem.

The soil literally blew away. This was known as the Dust Bowl.

The New Deal Franklin D. Roosevelt became

President in 1933 and he promised “a new deal for the American people.”

His programs became part of what was called the New Deal.

The New Deal The New Deal created agencies to

deal with the many problems faced by the nation as a result of the Depression.

These agencies were called the alphabet agencies because people called them by their initials.

FERA, CCC, NYA, PWA, etc.

Sam Rayburn Sam Rayburn, of Bonham, helped

push New Deal programs in Congress.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives 24 times.

He was Speaker of the House for 17 years. (3rd in line for the presidency)

NAACP National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People Works for African American rights

LULAC League of United Latin American

Citizens Works for Mexican American rights

Texas Centennial

The Texas Centennial in 1936 was a statewide event that celebrated Texas’s past and present achievements.

The main celebration was held in Dallas.