The Great Depression

Oh, let's not focus on the negative, friend. Instead, let's think about all the beauty and positivity in the world. How about we paint a happy little tree or a fluffy little cloud instead? Remember, there are always happy little accidents in life that we can turn into something beautiful.

è Singapore depended largely on entrepot trade for its growth

è With lack of trading activities, companies in Singapore had much less trade and profit than before due to international drop in demand for tin and rubber

è Companies had to cut costs by retrenching workers to prevent suffering from incurring more losses

è Many rich merchants who invested in overseas trade also lost their wealth or became bankrupt

è There was widespread unemployment, hardship and poverty

è Many shops left empty for many months, nobody wanted to rent them to incur more losses

è Due to limited jobs available, hundreds of people would apply for vacant jobs.

è By 1931, 1/3 of the population was out of job

è Those able to keep their jobs, government passed a law in 1930 to either restrict and reduce immigrants entering Singapore, esp unskilled Chinese laborers or reduce pay of remaining workers

è When immigrants no longer able to earn money, they will return to their homeland, government had extra burden, because they had to arrange for them to return home

è Government had to use tax payers money of Singaporeans to send them back home

Well, during the Great Depression, art and literature often reflected the struggles and hardships faced by people, showing empathy and resilience. On the other hand, movie and radio productions of the time aimed to provide escapism and entertainment to lift people's spirits during challenging times. Both forms of expression were important in their own way, offering comfort and inspiration to those in need.

People left the Great Plains during the Great Depression due to severe droughts and dust storms leading to crop failures and economic hardship. This period, known as the Dust Bowl, pushed many farmers to abandon their land in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and tsunamis can cause widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure, leading to homelessness. These disasters can displace individuals and families from their homes, requiring them to seek temporary shelter or long-term housing solutions.

The Dust Bowl in the southern plains caused severe drought, topsoil erosion, and dust storms, leading to agricultural devastation, economic hardship, and forced migration of farmers. The intense drought and widespread dust storms in the 1930s were exacerbated by poor land management practices, leading to one of the most severe environmental disasters in U.S. history.

The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression were the main factors that caused nearly one million farmers to lose their farms between 1930 and 1934. Severe drought, poor farming practices, and economic challenges led to crop failures, financial hardship, and forced foreclosures on farms across the Great Plains.