Kids still went to school in the cities during the Great Depression, although many had to drop out when they were 16 or 17 to get jobs. In some cases, public schools had to close or couldn't afford basic items like books. Programs such as sports, music, and art were sometimes cancelled to save costs.
What was life like for kids in the Great Depression?
With the Great Depression, many families lost their farms and migrated to urban areas in search of work and aid from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal government programs. With record unemployment, children competed for jobs with their elders in an effort to make a contribution to their families.
What was everyday life like during the Great Depression?
The average American family lived by the Depression-era motto: “Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” Many tried to keep up appearances and carry on with life as close to normal as possible while they adapted to new economic circumstances. Households embraced a new level of frugality in daily life.
What was the Great Depression facts for kids?
Interesting Facts About the Great Depression
Around 11,000 banks failed during the Great Depression, leaving many with no savings. In 1929, unemployment was around 3%. In 1933, it was 25%, with 1 out of every 4 people out of work. The average family income dropped by 40% during the Great Depression .
What was life like for school children during the Great Depression?
Prior to the Great Depression, most children in rural, or countryside, areas attended school, but during the Great Depression, many schools closed, leaving children without a school to attend . The school buildings were often just one big room, and without any money to keep them fixed, some began to fall apart.
What did families do to survive the Great Depression?
To save money, families neglected medical and dental care . Many families sought to cope by planting gardens, canning food, buying used bread, and using cardboard and cotton for shoe soles. Despite a steep decline in food prices, many families did without milk or meat.
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.
Who thrived during the Great Depression?
1930s. Seated from left, Robert Kennedy, Edward Kennedy, Joseph P Kennedy Sr, Eunice Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, and Kathleen Kennedy ; standing from left, Joseph P Kennedy Jr, John F Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Jean Kennedy, and Patricia Kennedy.
Who was the hardest hit by the Great Depression?
The poor were hit the hardest. By 1932, Harlem had an unemployment rate of 50 percent and property owned or managed by blacks fell from 30 percent to 5 percent in 1935. Farmers in the Midwest were doubly hit by economic downturns and the Dust Bowl.
How did people survive the Great Depression?
Neighbors and family members were supportive of each other , donating meals and money whenever possible. Again, people supported, taught, and learned from each other. Missions were there to feed people but many of those missions eventually ran out of money.
What jobs did children do in the Great Depression?
Economically, many children worked both inside and outside the home ; girls babysat or cleaned house, boys hustled papers or shined shoes, and both ran errands and picked crops. Yet the scarcity of jobs led record numbers of children to remain in school longer.
What are 10 facts about the Great Depression?
- The Great Depression started on Wall Street.
- Herbert Hoover was president during the start of the Great Depression.
- The peak of the Great Depression was during 1932 to 1933.
- The Great Depression caused social upheaval and political unrest.
- Trade policies made the Great Depression worse.
What led to 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 did schools look like during the Great Depression?
During the Great Depression, some school districts couldn't pay their teachers. ... Children from several grades sat in one room, often led by a teacher not much older than the students. The dust and heat or snow and cold sometimes made it hard for children to learn and for teachers to teach.
How were public schools paid for during the Depression?
Citizens pay property taxes based on the value of land and structures they own. For years the rich districts had better schools because their higher property values brought in more tax money. Hard pressed during the Depression as property values plummeted, educators turned to the state legislatures for funding.
What was life like for 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.
