The Great Depression of 1929 was a worldwide depression that lasted for 10 years. Its kickoff in the U.S. economy was “Black Thursday," October 24, 1929, when 12.9 million shares of stock were sold in one day, triple the normal amount. Over the next four days, prices fell 23%. This was known as the stock market crash of 1929.
Unemployment / Businesses fail
Unemployment was higher than ever after the stock market crash. By 1932 the unemployment rate had soared past 20 percent. Thousands of banks and businesses had failed. Millions were homeless. Men (and women) returned home from fruitless job hunts to find their dwellings padlocked and their possessions and families turned into the street. The average rate of unemployment in 1929 was 3.2%, in 1930 was 8.9% , in 1931 was 16.3%, in 1932 was 24.1%, in 1933 was 24.9%. More than 9000 banks closed in the 1930s making the whole situation worse with people losing their life's savings.
The Great Depression was a horrible problem for our country, but made many programs and effects on the country. One main program that was completed because of the Great Depression is the new deal. It made people so desperate for jobs thousands of people could apply for a simple job.
The CCC would employ young men in outdoor tasks for small amounts of money, but it was more than nothing and gave an opportunity to young people starting their life. The TVA helped workers to build and improve dams, improving flood control, and brought electricity to many areas under this effect
Unemployment / Businesses fail
Unemployment was higher than ever after the stock market crash. By 1932 the unemployment rate had soared past 20 percent. Thousands of banks and businesses had failed. Millions were homeless. Men (and women) returned home from fruitless job hunts to find their dwellings padlocked and their possessions and families turned into the street. The average rate of unemployment in 1929 was 3.2%, in 1930 was 8.9% , in 1931 was 16.3%, in 1932 was 24.1%, in 1933 was 24.9%. More than 9000 banks closed in the 1930s making the whole situation worse with people losing their life's savings.
The Great Depression was a horrible problem for our country, but made many programs and effects on the country. One main program that was completed because of the Great Depression is the new deal. It made people so desperate for jobs thousands of people could apply for a simple job.
The CCC would employ young men in outdoor tasks for small amounts of money, but it was more than nothing and gave an opportunity to young people starting their life. The TVA helped workers to build and improve dams, improving flood control, and brought electricity to many areas under this effect
Riding the Rails
Millions of men, teenagers, and even some women were forced to become hobos and leave their homes. Parents had to kick their teenagers out of the house because they couldn't provide for them anymore. They went to the railroad tracks and jumped on the trains as the first left, jumping off before they stopped. It was illegal, and police patrols got tougher on them as the years went on. They would lock them up in jail for a night, and a movie was even produced showing the dangers of riding the rails. Young boys thought of it as fun at first, liking the thrill of jumping the train. It was indeed very dangerous though, and at least 6,500 hobos died from it in a year. Some guards were harsher, and they would kill the people who tried to hop the trains. They were known as "bulls." Finding food was a constant problem for people riding the rails, and they often resorted to begging on the streets.
Hoovervilles
Many people became hobos in the Great Depression, with no home and nowhere to go. They would beg for food, and some would eventually steal the food. Most hobos lived in hobo camps, surviving off of the little they could. During the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and lasted approximately a decade, shantytowns appeared across the U.S. as unemployed people were evicted from their homes. As the Depression worsened in the 1930s, causing severe hardships for millions of Americans, many looked to the federal government for assistance. When the government failed to provide relief, President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was blamed for the intolerable economic and social conditions, and the shantytowns that cropped up across the nation, primarily on the outskirts of major cities, became known as Hoovervilles. The highly unpopular Hoover, a Republican, was defeated in the 1932 presidential election by Democrat Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945), whose New Deal recovery programs eventually helped lift the U.S. out of the Depression. In the early 1940s, most remaining Hoovervilles were torn down.
Millions of men, teenagers, and even some women were forced to become hobos and leave their homes. Parents had to kick their teenagers out of the house because they couldn't provide for them anymore. They went to the railroad tracks and jumped on the trains as the first left, jumping off before they stopped. It was illegal, and police patrols got tougher on them as the years went on. They would lock them up in jail for a night, and a movie was even produced showing the dangers of riding the rails. Young boys thought of it as fun at first, liking the thrill of jumping the train. It was indeed very dangerous though, and at least 6,500 hobos died from it in a year. Some guards were harsher, and they would kill the people who tried to hop the trains. They were known as "bulls." Finding food was a constant problem for people riding the rails, and they often resorted to begging on the streets.
Hoovervilles
Many people became hobos in the Great Depression, with no home and nowhere to go. They would beg for food, and some would eventually steal the food. Most hobos lived in hobo camps, surviving off of the little they could. During the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and lasted approximately a decade, shantytowns appeared across the U.S. as unemployed people were evicted from their homes. As the Depression worsened in the 1930s, causing severe hardships for millions of Americans, many looked to the federal government for assistance. When the government failed to provide relief, President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was blamed for the intolerable economic and social conditions, and the shantytowns that cropped up across the nation, primarily on the outskirts of major cities, became known as Hoovervilles. The highly unpopular Hoover, a Republican, was defeated in the 1932 presidential election by Democrat Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945), whose New Deal recovery programs eventually helped lift the U.S. out of the Depression. In the early 1940s, most remaining Hoovervilles were torn down.
Soup Kitchens
Soup kitchens in America started around 1929 when the effects of a growing depression began to be felt. The need for soup kitchens increased when the economy worsened in 1932, and 12 million Americans (about 25 percent of the normal labor force) were out of work. Governmental unemployment relief ranged from nonexistent to inadequate. Soup kitchens were often run by churches or private charities. The Capuchin Services Center in the Southeast Detroit served 1,500 to 3,000 people a day. Volunteers were really important to these soup kitchen. They usually served bread or soup.
Family Bonds
While many undesirable vices associated with hopelessness were on the rise, many family units were also strengthened through the crisis. Families were reunited or brought together in this time of difficulty. They had to move in with each other when they were kicked out of their homes or unable to pay off the bills.
Crime & Health
The Great Depression brought a rapid increase in crime rate. Many unemployed workers and several teenagers trying to help their families were forced to steal in order to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose with the crime when wanted posters were printed in the newspapers. Several cases of malnutrition were recorded, more than ever before. Prostitution was also in the rise as desperate women sought ways to pay off bills. Health was terrible because people could not pay to see a doctor. Alcoholism increased with people seeking an escape outlet from their lives. Cheaper cigarettes were sold for those who couldn't afford them.
Education
Children were pulled out of school because education could no longer be a priority with the low income. People were losing their jobs and could not afford for their children to go to school. Public schools often kicked students out when they could not pay the bills.
Marriage & Divorce
Marriages and Divorces were expensive. Many people delayed their marriages until men could provide for a family. Divorce rates dropped tremendously in the early 1930s. Stories of women abandoning their husbands went around as the unemployment rates grew. Birth rates fell sharply because children were too expensive.
Soup kitchens in America started around 1929 when the effects of a growing depression began to be felt. The need for soup kitchens increased when the economy worsened in 1932, and 12 million Americans (about 25 percent of the normal labor force) were out of work. Governmental unemployment relief ranged from nonexistent to inadequate. Soup kitchens were often run by churches or private charities. The Capuchin Services Center in the Southeast Detroit served 1,500 to 3,000 people a day. Volunteers were really important to these soup kitchen. They usually served bread or soup.
Family Bonds
While many undesirable vices associated with hopelessness were on the rise, many family units were also strengthened through the crisis. Families were reunited or brought together in this time of difficulty. They had to move in with each other when they were kicked out of their homes or unable to pay off the bills.
Crime & Health
The Great Depression brought a rapid increase in crime rate. Many unemployed workers and several teenagers trying to help their families were forced to steal in order to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose with the crime when wanted posters were printed in the newspapers. Several cases of malnutrition were recorded, more than ever before. Prostitution was also in the rise as desperate women sought ways to pay off bills. Health was terrible because people could not pay to see a doctor. Alcoholism increased with people seeking an escape outlet from their lives. Cheaper cigarettes were sold for those who couldn't afford them.
Education
Children were pulled out of school because education could no longer be a priority with the low income. People were losing their jobs and could not afford for their children to go to school. Public schools often kicked students out when they could not pay the bills.
Marriage & Divorce
Marriages and Divorces were expensive. Many people delayed their marriages until men could provide for a family. Divorce rates dropped tremendously in the early 1930s. Stories of women abandoning their husbands went around as the unemployment rates grew. Birth rates fell sharply because children were too expensive.
Women are running away from marriages like never before!
~Jane B. Ponaque
Although it seems as though the Great Depression was very damaging to the US, it is debated that the Great Depression actually was an eye opener. This is because The New Deal created many organizations that are still in action today (see the organizations subheading for more info): SSA, TVA, CCC, NLRA. It is argued that the US wouldn't be as successful without the Great Depression.