The stress of financial strain took a psychological toll—especially on men who were suddenly unable to provide for their families. The national suicide rate rose to an all-time high in 1933. Marriages became strained, though many couples could not afford to separate.
What was the hardest part of living during the Great Depression?
The country's most vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those subject to discrimination, like African Americans , were the hardest hit. Most white Americans felt entitled to what few jobs were available, leaving African Americans unable to find work, even in the jobs once considered their domain.
What was life like after the Great Depression?
After 1932 there were increases in investment and goverment purchases and a resulting growth in GDP but the increase in production was not enough to wipe out the pool of unemployment that had accumulated during the recession period. Therefore unemployment remained high and the economy was thus still in a depression.
What are three ways that life was difficult during the Great Depression?
Suggested answer: Answers will vary but students could state that banks closed, people could not find work, people lost their life savings , people could not find food, or that the value of the Stock Exchange decreased to one fifth of what it had been.
What was the average life during the Great Depression?
Life expectancy rose from 57.1 in 1929 to 63.3 years in 1932 , according to the analysis by U-M researchers José A. Tapia Granados and Ana Diez Roux. The increase occurred for both men and women, and for whites and non-whites.
Who is to blame for the Great Depression?
As the Depression worsened in the 1930s, many blamed President Herbert Hoover...
What happened to farmers during the Great Depression?
Farmers who had borrowed money to expand during the boom couldn't pay their debts. As farms became less valuable, land prices fell, too , and farms were often worth less than their owners owed to the bank. Farmers across the country lost their farms as banks foreclosed on mortgages. Farming communities suffered, too.
What state was most affected by the Great Depression?
What is often referred to as the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression hit the great farming areas of the US the hardest. States like Oklahoma , the panhandle of Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Portions of New Mexico were devastated. Tens of thousands of farmers lost their lands and had to migrate elsewhere.
What was city life like during the Great Depression?
Life in the big city was very difficult for many people during the Great Depression. Food was scarce and jobs were difficult to come by. Once a person lost their job, they were often evicted from their home or apartment.
How did people in rural areas suffer from the Great Depression?
Farmers Grow Angry and Desperate. During World War I, farmers worked hard to produce record crops and livestock. When prices fell they tried to produce even more to pay their debts, taxes and living expenses. In the early 1930s prices dropped so low that many farmers went bankrupt and lost their farms.
What did people eat during the Great Depression?
Chili, macaroni and cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits were popular meals. In the 70 or more years since the Great Depression, a lot has changed on the farms of rural America. All of these changes have resulted in farms that usually specialize in only one main crop.
What jobs survived the Great Depression?
- Medical & healthcare providers (Healthcare industry) ...
- IT professionals (Tech industry) ...
- Utility workers. ...
- Accountants. ...
- Credit and debt management counselors. ...
- Public safety workers. ...
- Federal government employees.
What President caused the Great Depression?
When Herbert Hoover became President in 1929, the stock market was climbing to unprecedented levels, and some investors were taking advantage of low interest rates to buy stocks on credit, pushing prices even higher.
What triggered the Great Depression?
It began after the stock market crash of October 1929 , which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and employment as failing companies laid off workers.
What caused 1929 crash?
What Caused the 1929 Stock Market Crash? ... Among the other causes of the stock market crash of 1929 were low wages, the proliferation of debt , a struggling agricultural sector and an excess of large bank loans that could not be liquidated.
Were the rich affected by the Great Depression?
The Great Depression was partly caused by the great inequality between the rich who accounted for a third of all wealth and the poor who had no savings at all. As the economy worsened many lost their fortunes, and some members of high society were forced to curb their extravagant lifestyles.
