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American History: Causes of the Great Depression

Related Article: Learn more about the 1920s and 1930s in America.

In this video, explore the causes and effects of the Great Depression, travel alongside the Joads for a look at the difficult journey made by thousands of families, and meet men and women across the United States who weathered the economic crisis.
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On the Homefront: Women

On the Homefront: Women (2:12)

The war caused a shortage of male workers, and companies began to employ women.

On the Homefront: African-Americans

On the Homefront: African-Americans (6:20)

Home front workers were necessary during World War I, prompting African-Americans to migrate north; racial incidents resulted.

U.S. Geography: The Depression

U.S. Geography: The Depression (0:29)

The Depression and the Dust Bowl drove people away from their Oklahoma farms.

The Progressive Era: Video Quiz

The Progressive Era: Video Quiz (2:21)

Take a look at this video and test your knowledge of the Progressive era.

The Progressive Era: The Limits of Progressivism

The Progressive Era: The Limits of Progressivism (2:40)

As President, Woodrow Wilson did little to advance the cause of African Americans. He failed to support federal anti-lynching laws or to reverse the trend toward segregation in his government.

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Dustbowl: Destructive Dust Storms in 1930s America

Dustbowl: Destructive Dust Storms in 1930s America (1:00)

In the 1930s, a series of destructive wind and dust storms hit the southern Great Plains of the United States. Nearly 50 million acres of land were severely damaged by the storms that moved great amounts of dirt and soil.

American History: A Future Reborn

American History: A Future Reborn (39:11)

The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression were disastrous for millions of Americans, yet families struggled through the hard times and persevered until World War II brought new jobs and new hope.

American History: The Grapes of Wrath

American History: The Grapes of Wrath (4:40)

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," John Steinbeck accurately portrayed the human suffering of Dust Bowl farmers who migrated west in search of work.

American History: The Great Depression in America

American History: The Great Depression in America (4:30)

Many banks failed, factories shut down, and millions lost their jobs soon after the Wall Street crash of October 1929. About one out of every four workers in the country were unemployed in the height of the Great Depression.

History in Focus: The End of the 1920s

History in Focus: The End of the 1920s (1:32)

The 1920s brought great changes, yet even greater changes would arrive in the next decade.

History in Focus: People of the 1920s

History in Focus: People of the 1920s (1:15)

Aviators, like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh, were the biggest news makers of the 1920s.

The Roaring Twenties: Popular Pastimes

The Roaring Twenties: Popular Pastimes (1:42)

This video examines some popular pastimes from the 1920s.

The Roaring Twenties: The Nineteenth Amendment

The Roaring Twenties: The Nineteenth Amendment (0:53)

The 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote.

The Roaring Twenties: The Arts

The Roaring Twenties: The Arts (2:42)

The 1920s were known as the Jazz Age. Besides the development of jazz, the decade marked a time filled with classic literature, music, art and theater.

The Roaring Twenties: Clashing Moral Values

The Roaring Twenties: Clashing Moral Values (4:08)

America's urban lifestyle clashed with rural values in the 1920s, resulting in many public debates.