Breadline during the Great Depression
Great Depression
About a quarter of the American workforce was unemployed at the lowest point of the Great Depression. When families were unable to afford food for themselves, charities often provided free meals. Al Capone, a leading organized crime figure, provided this soup kitchen in Chicago, Illinois during the Depression.
Franklin Roosevelt
Origins of the Red Line
During his presidency, Franklin Roosevelt gave several radio addresses to explain his policies and government programs. These addresses came to be known as "fireside chats." In this photo, Roosevelt prepares to give his first fireside chat, just after taking office, in March of 1933 to discuss the banking crisis.
March 12, 1933