Summary: Troubled Life During The Great Depression

Troubled Life during the Great Depression The prosperity of the 1920’s gave the American citizenry hope for better jobs, better pay and increased chances of prosperity. People were full of life as they could afford to pay for their basic needs, and even to keep a little money aside as savings. However, the Great Depression presented challenges that were difficult for the people to understand or deal with. The letters written to the government by people from different regions across the country reveal a state of hopelessness, emanating from unemployment, lost homes and savings and starvation. The photographs taken during this time support this situation with relief lines, and children living in temporary and poorly constructed shelters characterizing

Urban areas were the most affected by starvation and hunger as seen in many of the letters. With little or no pay, it was difficult for the people to buy food. Moreover, the price of consumer goods was too high at the time, due to the collapse of many industries. The irony is that rural American areas were producing enough food to feed the nations. However, the high transportation costs made it difficult for the food to reach the people. Additionally, some farmers decided to let their produce rot in farms in a bid to increase demand and inflate prices. This made the condition even worse in many parts of the country. Written by a WPA worker from New Jersey, letter 96 mentions that the people were working, yet they were facing starvation. This particular letter shows that the pay check is always late and when it comes, it is barely enough to cover the debt the family has incurred, let alone buy food. The sender says that his family of six is starving, yet he still reports to work every morning. This is a typical situation in the country at the time and many families were going for days without any food. The letter also highlights the lack of heating, especially during the winter that many families were struggling with. The photograph by Dorothea Lange titled, Waiting for relief checks, further explicates the living conditions at the time.

This crisis hit most parts of the country, and it was quite difficult task to undertake. Many industries closed down, laying off numerous workers and increasing the number of unemployed people in the country. Those who help jobs were paid so poorly, that it was difficult for them to support their families. The crisis also led to loss of homes and many were left to face starvation as food did not get to urban areas. The letters are very detailed and show the desperation in most people’s hearts at the time. The pictures also indicate a very sad state of affairs, with children bearing the blunt of the economic burden at the time. The Great Depression brought about truly difficult times, where hopelessness reigned in most