Life During The Great Depression Essay

The 1930’s marked the time of America’s harshest economic conditions ever. People were homeless, many were jobless, and majority of people were bankrupt. Americans all over the country were really struggling to get by - physically, emotionally, and economically. This devastating time period was known as the Great Depression. According to their website, the Great depression can be described as “the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world” (History.com) The effects of the depression could be felt nationwide - from the coast of california to the mountains of New York. One particular photograph which really encompassed what the Great Depression was like for people was “Migrant Mother”. In this photograph, there an obviously

Tons of people had consequently lost their jobs and unemployment rates skyrocketed. Britannica Encyclopedia states “it is widely agreed upon that the unemployment rate exceeded 20 percent at its highest point” during the depression (Romer). Finding a job making a decent amount of money was close to impossible. Without a job, and after foreclosing on their rent, people were forced to live in the streets. There were so many homeless people in the nation that numerous small makeshift towns were made. People lived in tents within a very close proximity of each other. These places came to be known as Hoovervilles, named after their uncooperating president. Hoovervilles were awfully dangerous and violence ensued itself in every corner. At the same time, the food supply was very scarce in many homes. Family’s did not have sufficient funds to buy enough groceries to feed their family. Often times, people ate only enough to survive, rather than eating enough to be full. The depression also affected people mentally. Not being able to support their own family took a very severe emotional toll on people. Stress levels were at an all time high for fear of their next move. Many people had lost hope of seeing a better day, but throughout the experience Americans pushed forward through the hard times. It is evident that during the Great Depression, the standard of living had taken a nosedive into an unfortunate