There have been many depressions throughout American History; the first beginning in 1807 and ending in 1814. The worst of these depressions was called The Great Depression. This economic demise began in 1929 and resulted in four years of chaos; eventually ending in 1933. The cause of this catastrophe
The Great Depression The Great Depression was the biggest economic crash in the history of the United States. The Great Depression started in 1929 and ended in 1939. There are several reasons that help lead these big crises (the Great depression) The stock markets increased and the falls. 1. The Stock market crash- in New York October 29, 1929.
25, No. 8, p. 457 Alain Locke takes a look at the current state of Harlem back in 1936. He notest that regardless of the Harlem renssaince and its grandure reputation, it was going through a tremendous amount of struggle, right along with the rest of the country, except that Harlem was being ignored. According the Locke, the world was unaware of the increasing level of crime that ran parralel to the econmic downfall of the United States. He pointed out why one riot started as a result of a white store owner servicing blacks, yet refuse to keep blacks in key positions and not employing enough of them.
The Great Depression was the longest lasting economic decline in the history of the United States. After the stock market crash of October 1929, the Great Depression followed. The event caused Wall Street to go into complete dismay, and wiped out millions of banks. For the next decade, social fabric was changed as well as the role of government. For example, spending was lessened and investment was dropped.
Among both sources, the conditions under which people lived during the Great Depression can be described as “the end of an era for those who had come to believe in ‘money for nothing’” (Harman 469) and “so long-lasting, so severe, and so global that it has become known as the Great Depression” (Bentley-Ziegler 985). It’s true that the world was in turmoil. People of all ages and of all social classes were panicking, some believing the times impossible to bear. For some, this was true. The Stock Market Crash, which coincided with the Great Depression, allowed for further suffering, especially great financial toil.
I have chosen three articles that all present solutions to hunger: “The Fight Over Food Deserts” by Eric Holt Gimineze, “Food Fight” by Michael Pollan, and “The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Go Hungry” by Sharon Astyk and Aaron Newton. Astyk and Newton believe that hunger is because the poor do not have access to food in their communities. In areas that were affected heavily by the recession there are no local produce stores which makes it difficult to find one. However, Michael Pollan believes that poor people do not have access to healthy food because it is simply too expensive. The only kinds of food that poor people can buy are unhealthy foods from places like McDonalds or Wal-Mart.
The Great Depression was the most significant downturn the U.S. economy experienced in the history of the United States. One of the most significant factors that caused the Great Depression was the staggeringly unequal distribution of wealth among the rich and the middle class. In the late 1920s, the top .1% of all Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42% while today, the top 5% richest Americans have a combined income equal to the bottom 53%. While this unequal distribution of income is not quite equal to that of the 1920s and 30s, it is nearing a dangerous point. Another significant cause of the Great Depression was the extensive stock market speculation that occurred in the late 1920s.
4. Recognizing Cause and Effect In your opinion, what was the greatest single effect of the Depression on the United States? Support your answer. The great depression was one of the most frightening and influential events to ever befall the United States of America. It had numerous effects on America and other countries and the vast majority of these problems are still affecting citizens today.
In the article written by Bob Faw from NBC News he states that many didn’t have any type of insurance, many could not leave the area because they were dependent on government checks, and many couldn’t even afford the basic transportation. He also states “This natural disaster illustrates what experts have known all along — disasters do not treat everyone alike. Surviving is easier for whites who have than for blacks who don’t. And when push comes to shove, it’s every man, woman and child for himself.” From analyzing Bob Faw’s article it seems that he correlates a lot of the poverty due to race. Faw states that 67% of the population in New Orleans is African-American and that half of that population lives below the poverty line.
As unemployment reached an all time high in 1933, this decade, was squished between the roaring twenties and World War II, and was left little to be highlighted other than the dismal consequences of the Great Depression. An all-time low in American confidence, the years between 1929 and 1940 tested the strength, courage, humility, and perseverance of those forced to suffer a quickly dropping economy. No longer did hard work transform into success or even hope. Middle class working families now joined the ranks of the poorer classes and farmers hit by the Dust Bowl in the 1920's. The enormous unemployment disrupted family structure as it forced the male provider shamefully into bread lines.