Historical Overview

The Great Depression

          The 1930’s were an extremely hard and trying time for the American society. The stock market crashed and citizens were left without jobs, food, homes, and everyday necessities. The extreme change in climate also created problems for citizens. In this overview, you will discover the in-depth story behind the Depression. You will learn about how people dealt with the situations they were put in, and how the President tried his best to pull America out of economic catastrophe.

          The beginning of the Great Depression began on October 24, 1929, when the stock market plummeted. The day, later to be called “Black Thursday”, was said to be nothing but a little slip in the economy, and that things would straighten out quickly. Little did stock market holders know that five days later, on October 29, 1929, the stock market would plummet again. The day that 16,000,000 stocks were lost would become known as “Black Tuesday.” Investing in stocks was worthless because stocks went from one hundred dollars down to three dollars apiece. America had yet to discover the hardships they would encounter in the next ten years.

          In six months, 4,000,000 people were jobless. Men, women, and children began to wear ragged clothes and grew thin from the lack of food. Since no jobs were available, and men weren’t able to support their families, families moved into towns created by President Hoover called “Hoovervilles.” The purpose of Hoovervilles was to help families have a place to stay, but even though they had a place to stay, the conditions were neither safe nor clean. Houses were made out of cardboard, wooden boxes, newspapers, tin, and old cars. Hygiene was also not good at the time. Bathing was a rare thing, and people couldn’t afford deodorant, toothpaste, or everyday toiletries to keep them healthy.

          The people who were most affected by the stock market crash were factory and mine workers. Bank employees also suffered losses because 5,000 banks had been closed completely. One way that the unemployed would get money for rent, groceries, and clothes was by standing on street sidewalks and selling apples. A person could buy a box of fifty apples for two dollars and sell them for fifty cents a piece. Many times, apple sellers would stand for fourteen hours just to get rid of a small portion of their apples.