Great Depression Essay

The Great Depression was a period of economic hardship for Americans, lasting from 1929 to the late 1930s. The stock market crash of 1929 set off a chain reaction of events that led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social upset. The government's response to the crisis was inadequate, and millions of Americans struggled to make ends meet. The various problems faced by Americans during the Great Depression included unemployment, poverty, and the collapse of the banking system, as well as the impact that these problems had on the lives of ordinary people were why this was such a devastating event for the United States. Also, the way the government and society attempted to deal with these problems was part of the reason this event was

Families were hungry and cold, so President Hoover hoped that the American people would respond to the problems of the Depression through the spirit of charity, self-help, voluntary giving, and individual generosity. Hoover also encouraged local governments to take responsibility. Another hardship families faced were lacking essentials, which included food, heating, and soaps. They also dealt with malnutrition, long-term health problems, and inadequate medical and dental care. Families dealt with the lack of these necessities by limiting their diets to conserve food, borrowing money from friends and family, not paying rent, washing clothes in soapweed and suds, burning furniture for heat, using their savings, and even going as far as eating family pets. Although families dealt with these hardships, the government eventually stepped in, with Philadelphia and local governments offering limited relief to families, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt visiting poverty-stricken

To deal with farmers’ economic situation during the Depression, they had to lower farm prices. Low farm prices meant lower income for farmers along with farmers not getting back the cost of producing the food. This was an extreme hardship for farmers so in response, they dumped gallons of milk on roadways, picketed all roads leading to Sioux City, used strikes and blockades, and organized the Farmers’ Holiday Association. Police tried to enforce order within the strikes, but in return they took away a sheriff’s badge and his gun and threw them in a cornfield. Despite the fact that farmers had it difficult, one group of people arguably had it more difficult. Young people during the Great Depression lacked opportunity which discouraged them greatly. They also were unable to lead normal lives and were unable to marry or raise families. Unfortunately, due to these issues, suicide rates increased and marriages were postponed. Also, college and high school graduates took menial jobs. College men were shoveling sand, checking freight cars, and working in filling stations, while high school graduates were offering themselves to industry for “nothing, just experience”. Farmers and young people during the Great Depression had it bad which greatly impacted