Great Depression in Washington State Project facts for kids

The Great Depression in Washington State Project is an online collection of stories, pictures, and old newspaper articles. It was created in 2009 at the University of Washington in Seattle. This project helps us understand what life was like during the Great Depression in the 1930s. It shows how this tough time changed Washington State forever.

What Was the Great Depression Project?

This project is like a big online museum. It has many parts to help you learn. You can find essays, maps, and hundreds of old photos from the 1930s. It shows how the Great Depression changed many things. For example, it ended a long time of Republican rule in politics. It also made labor unions much stronger. The project also explains how the Democratic Party changed. It even shaped new ideas about what the government should do.

Exploring Life During the Depression

The project looks at different parts of life during the Depression. It covers everyday life, culture, politics, and work. It's part of a bigger group of projects called the Pacific Northwest Labor and Civil Rights History Projects. Students do much of the research for these projects. They share what they learn with everyone.

What Can You Find on the Site?

The website is split into many sections. Each section helps you learn about a different topic.

• Money and Hard Times: This section covers economics and poverty.
• Workers and Unions: Learn about strikes and how unions grew.
• New Ideas: This part talks about radicalism, which means new or extreme political ideas.
• Fairness for All: This section focuses on civil rights.
• University Life: See how the University of Washington was affected.
• Government and Leaders: Explore politics during the Depression.
• Art and Fun: Discover culture and arts from that time.
• Daily Living: Understand what everyday life was like.
• Government Jobs: Learn about New Deal public works projects.

Special Features to Explore

Each section has cool things to see. You'll find historical photos and research reports. There are also unique maps and other materials.

• Theater Arts: There is a special part about theater. It includes information on the Federal Theatre Project in Washington.
• Timeline: A full timeline shows major events in the state.
• Hoovervilles: Learn about the "Hoovervilles" in Seattle. These were shantytowns where homeless people lived.
• Interactive Maps: See maps of New Deal projects. These were government programs that created jobs.
• Famous Photographer: Look at the work of Dorothea Lange. She was a famous photographer who took pictures in the Yakima Valley.
• Newspaper Articles: A database lets you read old newspaper articles. They cover labor issues from 1930 to 1938.

Plays from the Past

When the website was first launched, two plays from the Depression era were performed. These plays were Waiting for Lefty and End of Summer. They were shown at the Jones Playhouse in Seattle in February 2010. This helped people feel what it was like during those times.