The Impact of the Great Depression on the American People

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Tittle: The impact of the great depression on the American people In this essay I will be taking a look at how families where affected by the great depression and the forth coming new deal. This essay will all cover the position of society gearing the great depression .especially the role women played and women’s reaction to all the changes with in the great depression and new deal structures. Let’s start by taking a short look at what the great depression. As it is stated in the Encyclopaedia Americana” It isn't easy to give a brief summary of the Great Depression. It was, without a doubt, the longest and most severe economic downturn in American history. Widely held to begin with the stock market crash of 1929, the Depression lasted until the advent of American involvement in World War two unemployment skyrocketed during the Depression years, reaching levels as high as one third of the population. Output shrank tremendously, falling by ten per cent a year from 1929 to 1932. Nearly half of the commercial banks of the United States failed during the Depression. Crop prices fell by over fifty %. People went hungry because so much food was produced that production became unprofitable. Others were unemployed because they had produced more than could be sold. Huge numbers of Americans had their lives upset by the Depression. Tens of thousands of migrant farm workers travelled the nation looking for employment. Homelessness, poverty and general despair characterized much of the nation”. (Encyclopaedia Americana, Bernard S. Cayne, ed. Danbury: Grollier, 1990.) Family life with in the great depression The great depression had a rather large effect on society but had a more direct effect on family life. In this I will be tokening glance in the affects the great depression had especially on the American family. The Great Depression was very destructive to family life
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