Surviving Depression and War

Key Idea

The Great Depression was a very hard time in the 1930s. In California, many people lost their jobs and could not afford their homes. Families struggled to find food and shelter as businesses closed and work disappeared.

During this period, some people unfairly blamed Mexican and Mexican American workers for the job shortages. This led to the forced deportation of hundreds of thousands of people to Mexico. Many of those forced to leave were American citizens who had never even lived in Mexico.

Key Idea

During the 1930s, huge dust storms turned farms in the middle of the United States into a Dust Bowl. With their land ruined, many farming families packed up everything they owned and drove to California, hoping to find work and a new life.

When they arrived, they discovered that life was still very hard. There were not enough jobs, and many became migrant farmworkers. They had to move from farm to farm to pick crops for low pay. These families often lived in makeshift camps and were not welcomed by everyone.

Key Idea

During the Great Depression, many Californians could not find work. To help, the government created jobs by paying people to build large projects for everyone to use.

These projects were called public works. Workers built famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. They also built dams and canals to bring water to farms in the Central Valley.

Key Idea

When World War II began, the United States needed many ships, planes, and other supplies for the soldiers. California's factories began working day and night to build these items. This created a huge defense industry in the state.

This wartime work created thousands of new jobs. The economic boom helped end the hard times of the Great Depression in California, as many people could finally find steady work again.