Life in the Great Depression
The Great Depression was a time of economic downturn that devestated millions of people; this impacted people economically, socially, and emotionally. Due to the economic blows, many families had difficulty affording for luxuries, even necessities. Social classes in the US were changed signifigantly during this time. The lives of everyday people were much different during the depression, which subsequently impacted family life. Money was a difficult thing to come by, so many people relied on government or charity relief programs. In the movie Cinderella Man, there is talk about running out of food at the bread line; there is also a photo of statues portraying this at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washinton D.C. (“Sculpture Depicting”, n.d.). Bread lines were places where charities would hand out food to families in need. Since there were so many people out of work, these bread lines flooded cities: trying to support people. These relief programs were meant to help everyone would had lost immensely during the Great Depression.
…show more content…
Cities were described as, “Homeless people sle[eping] on park benches, in empty railway cars, or in cardboard boxes. Many grouped together in Hoovervilles, makeshift shantytowns of tents and shacks built on public land or vacant lots” (Lapsansky-Werner, Levy, Roberts, Taylor, 2008, pg 376). The whole American society was suffering during this time. With unemployment at an all time low, the poor just kept getting poorer; therefore, there was changing of some of the social classes. The depression caused the lowest class to grow substantially in a very short time