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What it was: Hoover became the director of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Why it was important: He modernized the agency, making it more powerful and effective in fighting crime during the 1930s. -
What it was: A book written by Adolf Hitler describing his beliefs and plans for Germany’s future. Why it was important: It revealed his hatred toward Jews and his goal of expanding Germany’s power, ideas that later led to World War II. -
What it was: The U.S. stock market suddenly lost most of its value. Why it was important: It started the Great Depression, a time of massive unemployment and economic hardship across the country. -
What it was: Severe drought and poor farming practices caused huge dust storms across the Great Plains. Why it was important: It destroyed farms, forced families to move west, and worsened the effects of the Great Depression. -
What it was: Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States. Why it was important: He promised to help the nation recover from the Great Depression through programs known as the New Deal. -
What it was: Adolf Hitler was appointed the chancellor of Germany’s government. Why it was important: This gave Hitler the power to turn Germany into a Nazi dictatorship and prepare the country for war. -
What it was: The Civilian Conservation Corps was a New Deal program that gave jobs to young men working on environmental projects. Why it was important: It provided work for the unemployed and improved forests, parks, and public lands during the Depression. -
What it was: The Works Progress Administration was a New Deal agency that created jobs for millions of Americans. Why it was important: It helped build roads, schools, and public buildings while giving people work during the Depression.
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What it was: Boxer James J. Braddock defeated Max Baer to become world heavyweight champion. Why it was important: His story inspired many people struggling through the Great Depression and earned him the nickname “The Cinderella Man.” -
What it was: The Summer Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany.
Why it was important: Hitler used the games to promote Nazi ideas. -
What it was: A violent attack on Jewish homes, shops, and synagogues in Germany and Austria. Why it was important: It marked a major step in Nazi persecution of Jews and led to even harsher treatment during the Holocaust. -
What it was: A novel by John Steinbeck about a poor family forced to leave the Dust Bowl and search for work in California. Why it was important: It showed the struggles of ordinary people during the Great Depression and became one of the decade’s most famous books. -
What it was: A colorful musical movie starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. Why it was important: It gave Americans a sense of hope and imagination during hard times and became a classic film in U.S. history. -
What it was: Nazi Germany attacked and invaded Poland. Why it was important: This event began World War II in Europe when Britain and France declared war on Germany. -
What it was: A speech by President Roosevelt describing four basic freedoms everyone should have: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Why it was important: It inspired Americans and explained what values the U.S. was defending as World War II grew.