How Did The Great Depression Affect Families In The 1930s

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The Great Depression took its toll on many families during the 1930s. In 1929, the Great Depression hit due to the stock market crash. This disaster caused financial issues and unemployment. It lasted what seemed like forever and finally came to an end around World War II. A modern-day economist, Ben Bernanke, was looking into the catastrophe and said it was such a disaster because of its length, depth, and consequences. The weather also took a toll on the nation during this time because, in the South, there were many dust storms. The only people who were doing well were people in the movie industry. Families made solutions to survive with little to no money, so they grew gardens, had potlucks, and found cheap entertainment. Life was going …show more content…

Corner stores were where people shopped before the stock market crash. They normally have a small amount of inventory, and the employees would go and retrieve stuff for you. Michael Cullen was once an employee at Kroger, which was just another popular corner store. After the stock market crash, he opened a new type of store. This is what we know as a supermarket, where you have self-service, large selections, discount prices, and huge parking lots. The supermarket was such a big hit because there was more supply and it was cheaper. In 1930, America's first supermarket opened, called King Kullen. It helped shoppers be more budget-friendly because they had a lot of inventory with only small markups. A young man was also doing well, and his name was Howard Hughes. He got his money through his family. By the age of 18 Hughes was a millionaire, and all of it was from his father. Hughes's father invented a drill bit that helped the oil industry boom. He was a popular film producer who became known for being an aviator later in life. In 1932, Hughes got an interest in aviation, so he formed Hughes Aircraft Company. This aircraft company became one of the world's most profitable manufacturers of