Hardship and Suffering During the Depression

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
The unemployment rate increased during the Great Depression.  Many banks and business closed and those that were still open had to fire many of their workers.  So the unemployment rate in the country was twenty five percent and it was worse among minorities, like it was over fifty percent for African Americans.

Housing
Housing was affected by the Great Depression.  Many people were evicted from their homes and had to live on the streets, in parks, or sewer pipes.  Some also lived in little towns of shacks made out of junk such as old cars or boxes called shantytowns.

Farming
Farming, overall, was hurt by the Great Depression.  Although farmers were able to grow crops to feed their families, the prices of crops were very low so farmers went into debt and lost their land.  Also, the Dust Bowl was a drought that killed the crops in many areas, so farmers were hurt even more.  Many started tenant farming, but farming overall was still hurt.


Race relations
The race relations were awful during the Great Depression.  With whites out of work, they now were trying to get any job they could, even is it was a lower position like one usually held by an African American. Then half of the African American population being out of work, they also wanted these jobs.  This competition resulted in an increase in violence towards the African Americans from whites.  Also, the whites in America were so desperate for jobs that they went after other groups that were "taking up jobs".  So many Americans called for people of Mexican descent, even if they were born in America,  to be deported and, after a while, many Mexicans were sent back to Mexico.  The government even played a part in this.  Clearly, race relations were awful partially because of the Great Depression.

Family life
Family life was hurt and helped by the Great Depression.  Not having extra or enough money put a strain and stress on families.  Then some fathers who had been out of work and frustrated with their situations left their families.  Also, some teenagers left their families in order to find work or take the burden of feeding them from their parents.  However, many Americans found strength in the unity of their families.  How the families stuck together helped them survive the miserable time.


Physical health
Physical health declined during the Great Depression.  Many people were starving.  The children often suffered from malnutrition, which led to diseases such as rickets.  There were also those riding the railroads. Many were beaten for trespassing by guards and other were shut in ice cars.  Then some had to sleep standing up or suffered injuries just from being around the trains.  Around 51,818 were either killed or injured from riding the rails.  Clearly, physical health suffered during the great Depression.

Emotional health

The emotional health of people during the Great Depression was hit very hard.  Men out of work of months and years lost hope while women were ashamed of the poverty they lived in.  There was also a great stress on families due to money issues.  These times also demoralized people and more people were depressed, which added to a higher suicide rate and more people being taken to mental hospitals. People also had to give up on their dreams, like college families, because they could not afford such things.

As much as the emotional health of everyone suffered, it also was helped.  People were kinder to others and more helpful to the poor.  They were also more sympathetic.  So emotional health was almost helped as well.

Explain or define each of the following:

 Dust bowl
The Dust Bowl was the drought that went on for many years and took place mostly in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.  This, combined, with strong winds, led to dust being blown around and covering everything.  This killed many and made it difficult for farmers to grow crops.  Therefore, it became known as the Dust Bowl.

Shantytown
Shantytowns were made up of shacks grouped together and built out of junk, such as old cars or boxes.  People who had been evicted built and lived in these shacks.

Direct Relief

Direct relief is given to the poor by the government and consists of food or money.