The World

Hello this is our web page. In this web site you'll learn about the Depression and World War II and how it affected the area of East Greenbush, NY, in the U.S. At the end of this page we have notes that we got from interviews with the people who lived here during 1925-1950.

During the Depression some people did not have running water or electricity because they couldn't afford it. The Depression was caused because of bad finances and people did not think about the future. Then President Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd president, helped solve the problem by putting people to work building huge, grand buildings. This school was one of the results of Roosevelt's work: the million-dollar school was built because of his Work Projects Administration.

During WWII everything was rationed. Stuff like flour, butter, sugar and gas were like gold. Children went around dumpsters or old cars even junkyards to get old rubber tires and turn them in to the army for ten cents a tire.

Germany invaded the rest of Europe and resulted in the United States being drawn into war against Germany and Japan.

We have a poem from a person who went to Columbia during WWII. It is titled American Flag. She wrote it when she was 14.

American Flag By: Mrs. Schoonbeck The American flag is a beauifull flag With the red and the white and blue It stands for America and the land that we love  The American hearts that are true. It's out in the stormiest weather In the rain and the lightning and in the gale It rides over the seas as it floats in the breeze  Above the highest of sails. The american flag has guarded the grave  Of many of our soldiering men I love that flag and I honor that flag  And I'll defend it again and again.

Kyle's notes:

What was the main food? -Tripe (cow stomach).

How did the depression start? -Nobody thought about there finances.

How did the air drills work? -They went to the woods.

Were there many jobs? -No.

How did people get food? -There were not many department stores so people farmed.

What was the ration system like? -Everything was rationed, you couldn't get gas unless you had an important job, and there was no sugar or flour.
 

Krista's notes:

Was it Hard to get food? - Yes because all the food was going to the men in WWII.

Was the depression harder then being in WW2? -Yes because it was hard to get money or food and also hard to feed the children and they where scared that they would get bombed.

What kind of jobs were there? -Mostly farmers and doctors there weren't that many jobs.

How were the drills like? -They were to get up and silently walk outside and go into the woods.

What were the hardest foods to get? -Probably flour, sugar, sweet things and meat.