As you read about how people coped with hard times, use the headings below to summarize the Great Depression’s effects on various aspects of American life.
Employment
Most men were unemployed and constantly wandered the streets looking for any work to support their family. It was even harder for minorities to find jobs, and when they did they were paid less. Women sometimes found work outside the home, but many people believed they shouldn’t be allowed to work when there were still men who didn’t have jobs.
Housing
Many people lost their homes and began living in whatever they could throw together. There were whole families living in garbage near cities. Hoboes wandered America looking for a way to get by, and they were completely homeless. Many children who were out of school began living on the road, exploring America.
Farming
Thousands of farms were foreclosed upon during the depression. Although farmers had the advantage of being able to grow food for their family, it became more difficult when they had no land to grow on. Often sons of poor farmers became the “wild boys” mentioned previously, traveling across America any way they could.
Race relations
Latinos and African-Americans who were looking for jobs were met with much resentment from white men looking for the same jobs. The white men believed that they deserved the job more than the minorities. This resentment resulted in a lot of racial violence, including several lynchings.
Family life
Men in families often had no way of making money, so it was difficult to support families. Women worked hard to save as much money as possible and even began working themselves in some cases. Children suffered through malnutrition and school closings.
Physical health
With so many people poor and looking for work, there was hardly any food available to them. Many children died of malnutrition, and many hoboes suffered terrible conditions while traveling. Thousands of trespassers on railroads were killed by murderers or adverse conditions. Those who were in the dust bowl often died of malnutrition or some illness from dust ingestion if they did not move west out to California. Rickets became common in children as well. At this point people didn’t have enough money to go to the doctor or dentist, which left people in poor health.
Emotional health
Many Americans at this time were so saddened by the hardships they and their family were facing that they lost the will to live. Many many more people committed suicide during the depression than in normal times in America. Many more people were also institutionalized for mental problems.
Explain or define each of the following:
Dust bowl
Employment
Most men were unemployed and constantly wandered the streets looking for any work to support their family. It was even harder for minorities to find jobs, and when they did they were paid less. Women sometimes found work outside the home, but many people believed they shouldn’t be allowed to work when there were still men who didn’t have jobs.
Housing
Many people lost their homes and began living in whatever they could throw together. There were whole families living in garbage near cities. Hoboes wandered America looking for a way to get by, and they were completely homeless. Many children who were out of school began living on the road, exploring America.
Farming
Thousands of farms were foreclosed upon during the depression. Although farmers had the advantage of being able to grow food for their family, it became more difficult when they had no land to grow on. Often sons of poor farmers became the “wild boys” mentioned previously, traveling across America any way they could.
Race relations
Latinos and African-Americans who were looking for jobs were met with much resentment from white men looking for the same jobs. The white men believed that they deserved the job more than the minorities. This resentment resulted in a lot of racial violence, including several lynchings.
Family life
Men in families often had no way of making money, so it was difficult to support families. Women worked hard to save as much money as possible and even began working themselves in some cases. Children suffered through malnutrition and school closings.
Physical health
With so many people poor and looking for work, there was hardly any food available to them. Many children died of malnutrition, and many hoboes suffered terrible conditions while traveling. Thousands of trespassers on railroads were killed by murderers or adverse conditions. Those who were in the dust bowl often died of malnutrition or some illness from dust ingestion if they did not move west out to California. Rickets became common in children as well. At this point people didn’t have enough money to go to the doctor or dentist, which left people in poor health.
Emotional health
Many Americans at this time were so saddened by the hardships they and their family were facing that they lost the will to live. Many many more people committed suicide during the depression than in normal times in America. Many more people were also institutionalized for mental problems.
Explain or define each of the following:
Dust bowl
The area in the south west including parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas that was hardest hit by the drought and dust storms of the 1930s.
Shantytown
Little towns made of small makeshift shacks.
Direct Relief
Shantytown
Little towns made of small makeshift shacks.
Direct Relief
Cash payments to the poor directly from the government for food and other supplies.
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