The Effects of Sports During the Great Depression The Great Depression was a catastrophic event in United States history, the worst financial downturn in American History lasting around ten years, starting in 1929 and ending in 1939, causing the nation's economy to collapse and negatively affecting American society ("Great Depression: Years"). The leading factor in the Great Depression was the stock market crash in October 1929. Between 1920 and 1930, the American economy was skyrocketing, and large amounts of borrowed money were invested in the stock market. When people began to lose confidence in the market, people panicked and rapidly sold and traded large amounts of their shares to repay loans. The trading and selling of stocks left all …show more content…
Athletes were seen as gifted people, as they could provide light during a time of darkness; some people even saw them as gods (Corbett). The Great Depression had significant effects on athletes' roles in society. Some athletes faced struggles in their careers, while others were provided a platform to show their talents. For example, boxers Joe Louis and Max Schelling gained national attention for an iconic June 22, 1938 fight. The fight gave the two boxers and their fight an iconic place in sports history, especially in the Great Depression era (Erenberg 8-9). Furthermore, a quote from a teammate of Olympic track and field athlete Jesse Owens shows an example of these athletes' effects on everyday citizens: "'The sports heroes of the 1930s provided relief from the depression of the Depression,' said Marty Glickman, a 1936 Olympic teammate of Owens and a longtime broadcaster. It was a tough time. There was a lot of unemployment and hunger, many people online for food.'" (qtd. in Corbett. The affairs in the realm of sports were not the only effects on people's lives during this