Depression and Hard Times

Question 1

Why was Yip Harburg relieved when the stock market crashed?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Harburg felt grateful that the crash forced him to use and develop his creativity.

Question 2

Why did the stock market crash make people lose confidence in business? Make an inference based on the readings and your knowledge of history.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

It made people realize that businesses could fail.

Question 3

Read the excerpt from “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” What central idea of the song is reflected in these lines?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Hard times can affect anyone, even people who have worked hard and served their country.

Question 4

Read the last lines of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” What do these lines suggest about the social consequences of the Great Depression?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

People who were unemployed were sometimes forgotten by friends and neighbors.

Question 5

What details from the interview did you use in your response? Check all of the boxes that apply to the response you wrote.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Harburg’s feelings about writing sad songs

Depression and Hard Times Answers