The Depression, Recovery, and Growth

The Great Depression

• 1929 stock market crash started it• Uncle Sam helped more Colorado folks that

the state• The Banks failed-then reopened FDIC

under FDR• 25 % of the people lost their jobs-young

people moved back home• Old people suffered the most-soup lines

were everywhere

Impact on Agriculture

• It cost more to raise livestock or plant crops than could be earned

• Co-ops formed to pool money to share the burden

• Drought and dust storms ruined many areas, followed by grasshoppers

The New Deal

• 1932-FDR is elected promising a ‘New Deal” to the American people.

• In Colorado, Edward Costigan became Senator-passed Silver Purchase Act of 1934 allowing silver to be bought at $1.29 an ounce and gold at $35 an ounce-mines opened again

The WPA and the CCC

• Works Progress Administration-put 150,000 people to work in Colorado

• Roads, schools, airports, and ball fields were just some of the projects

• WPA set up drama programs for unemployed actors and artist created murals in downtown Denver

WPA and CCC• The CCC-Civilian Conservation Corps, put

18-25 year olds to work on outdoors projects

• They built trails, campgrounds, and fought forest fires

• The Taylor Grazing Act-allowed ranchers to use national forest land and CCC workers built watering holes and repaired fences

World War II and Recovery

• Colorado farmers and ranchers sold goods overseas

• Many men from Colorado left to fight and women took their place in the workplace

• Wartime shortages saw rationing and Victory gardens

• Minerals that make steel stronger were mined in Colorado-Leadville’s Climax mine

World War II and Recovery

• Military bases and hospitals built in Colorado-Lowery Airforce base, and Fort Carson

• Camp Hale-near Leadville trained soldiers to fight in the Alps-later soldiers returned an created Aspen ski area along with 30 other ski areas

Post War Boom

• Air Force Academy set up N. of Colorado Springs

• Many of the stationed soldiers moved to Colorado after the war

• The Federal Center was built in Lakewood Colorado

• After WW II, Colorado became one of the fastest growing states in the country