Effects of the Great Depression
Courtney Carter
January 28, 2014
Period 1 – US History
Effects of the Great Depression
On October 29, 1929, the seemingly-thriving stock market crashed, causing many Americans to lose years’ worth of savings and plunging the country into what is called the Great Depression. This period was the worst economic downfall the country has ever seen, so the people were unprepared for the hardships they would face. The Great Depression was a very difficult time for a majority of Americans and they had to go to extremes to cope with the hardships and to continue to survive. It was very difficult for people to cope with the extreme change from excessive lavishness of the Roaring Twenties. The Great Depression affect Americans by forcing them to work for long hours (Doc 1) and for little pay (Doc 4/6) and driving them to become hobos and beggars and leave their families and lives behind to search for money (Doc 2). People were desperate for money and would do most anything to be able to eat that night. Many people used to make a few hundred dollars a week and they were reduced to maybe ten to fifteen dollars (Doc 4). Americans had a hard time comprehending how the entire nation went from well off and on the rise to starving and on the streets. People tried to cope with the economic disaster but was having a hard time finding relief when there was none to be found. To make up for the huge losses of income, children dropped out of school to work in the mines (Doc 1), men and teens became hobos and begged for money and food (Doc 2), and people sold food and personal items far below their value just to have some money in their pocket (Doc 3, 4). Lots of people moved to smaller apartments cut back on expenses, even going without food to save money (Doc 4). Women would go to the “Bronx slave market” to find jobs as maids and housekeepers for extremely low wages and with the risk of not being paid at all (Doc 6). Some even moved westward to try and find better economic
January 28, 2014
Period 1 – US History
Effects of the Great Depression
On October 29, 1929, the seemingly-thriving stock market crashed, causing many Americans to lose years’ worth of savings and plunging the country into what is called the Great Depression. This period was the worst economic downfall the country has ever seen, so the people were unprepared for the hardships they would face. The Great Depression was a very difficult time for a majority of Americans and they had to go to extremes to cope with the hardships and to continue to survive. It was very difficult for people to cope with the extreme change from excessive lavishness of the Roaring Twenties. The Great Depression affect Americans by forcing them to work for long hours (Doc 1) and for little pay (Doc 4/6) and driving them to become hobos and beggars and leave their families and lives behind to search for money (Doc 2). People were desperate for money and would do most anything to be able to eat that night. Many people used to make a few hundred dollars a week and they were reduced to maybe ten to fifteen dollars (Doc 4). Americans had a hard time comprehending how the entire nation went from well off and on the rise to starving and on the streets. People tried to cope with the economic disaster but was having a hard time finding relief when there was none to be found. To make up for the huge losses of income, children dropped out of school to work in the mines (Doc 1), men and teens became hobos and begged for money and food (Doc 2), and people sold food and personal items far below their value just to have some money in their pocket (Doc 3, 4). Lots of people moved to smaller apartments cut back on expenses, even going without food to save money (Doc 4). Women would go to the “Bronx slave market” to find jobs as maids and housekeepers for extremely low wages and with the risk of not being paid at all (Doc 6). Some even moved westward to try and find better economic