Great Depression Challenged American Families In The 1930s

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the 1930s. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. It challenged American families in major ways, placing great economic, social, and psychological strains and demands upon families and their members. Millions of families lost their savings as numerous banks collapsed in the early 1930s. In addition, farmers lost their crops and failed to make a living. Since many were unable to make mortgage or rent payments, they were deprived of their homes or were evicted from their apartments. Both working-class and middle-class families were drastically affected by the Depression.

Much of the nation was enjoying a manufacturing and production boom in the 1920s, when the price of cotton began to fall. The Great Plains were hit hard with both a drought and horrendous dust storms, which was known as the Dust Bowl. Years of overgrazing cause the grass to disappear leaving the topsoil exposed, the high winds picked up loose dirt destroying farmers’ crops. The boll weevil had also destroyed many of Georgia’s cotton fields and ruined small farmer’s chances of making a living. Many had to abandon their farms and move to cities or out of the state. Georgia’s dependence on cash-crop agriculture was the main root for its rural

economy plummeted into the Great Depression. He believed in a limited role for government and worried that excessive federal involvement posed a threat to capitalism and individualism. He vetoed several bills that would have provided relief to desperate Americans. Hoover shouldered much of the blame from the American people as he failed to realize just how severe the Depression had gone. He was viewed as insensitive toward the suffering of millions of Americans. As a result, Hoover lost by a landslide in the 1932 presidential election to Democrat Franklin D.