Boom, bust and recovery,
1917-41
Immediately after the First World War, the US economy entered
a brief depression. War production stopped both manufacturing
and producing crops for war-torn Europe and for the USA.
, Post-war depression
1. Farming
2. Industry
3. Government reaction
, Farming
● During the war, farmers were urged to produce more wheat and were given
subsidies to do so.
● Some took out loans to buy farmland and machinery
● Mechanisation meant fewer workers were needed, so some workers became
unemployed
● During the war, wheat farmers made a profit
● After the war, they produced too much; prices fell
● Some farmers produced yet more to make enough to cover their loans
● Prices continued to fall
● Some farmers had to sack workers , others went bankrupt
● Farmers who were growing cotton did not escape trouble , due to the boll weevil