Social And Cultural
Cultural and Social Effects of the Great Depression
With the Great Depression starting in 1929, many people lost jobs, making the social and cultural lives of people change drastically. Over 30 million people lost their jobs within only 3 years of the initial stock market crash.1 Many Americans had to completely change their lifestyles to deal with the Depression. Majority of people had to pack up and leave due to harsh conditions, especially agricultural wise. People hunted for jobs to simply keep themselves and their families alive. After the Great Depression many Americans lives will never be the same.
The depression affected the people of America greatly in cultural aspect. Life completely changed for many people during this time. Crime was one of the biggest changes as the depression began. People that had lost jobs resorted to stealing and robbing just to put food on the table for their family. Food was a scarcity for many families and eventually caused malnutrition for many people. Children were greatly affected by malnutrition. Some were forced to steal crops from near by farms. Many people simply committed suicide because they could no longer survive in such harsh times. Depression greatly increased as well during this time and many people turned to alcohol to try to cope with their struggles.2 Gangs and gangsters rose up in the response to increase of alcohol. Many gangs terrorized cities as they illegally sold alcohol and many other things.
The depression affected the people of America greatly in cultural aspect. Life completely changed for many people during this time. Crime was one of the biggest changes as the depression began. People that had lost jobs resorted to stealing and robbing just to put food on the table for their family. Food was a scarcity for many families and eventually caused malnutrition for many people. Children were greatly affected by malnutrition. Some were forced to steal crops from near by farms. Many people simply committed suicide because they could no longer survive in such harsh times. Depression greatly increased as well during this time and many people turned to alcohol to try to cope with their struggles.2 Gangs and gangsters rose up in the response to increase of alcohol. Many gangs terrorized cities as they illegally sold alcohol and many other things.
Crime as not the only thing that changed drastically in the cultural aspect, migration was huge at this time as well. Many North East coast residents left and moved West looking for work. People would jump onto trains for free transportation. Many times when people were caught hitching a ride on trains, they were given little punishment.3 The Dust Bowl was a huge downfall for the Great Plains area. Severe dust storms plagued the area for years during this time. The high winds and drought caused many of the crops to die. This caused the farming in this area to decrease greatly. People farming in this area were forced to move west to California or Arizona in search of different jobs.
Hoovervilles arose during this time to deal with the mass amounts of people loosing their homes. President Hoover made these some the homeless people would have a place to stay other than the streets. Hoovervilles were where Americans went after they were forced to leave their homes. These Hoovervilles were shanties made of cardboard, paper and some wood. Most of the homes here were just holes dug into the ground with some sort of protection on top of it.4 Hoovervilles were set up all over the United States.
The regular family life during this time period also changed greatly. Families opted not to have any more kids because it was just another mouth to feed. Families started to heavy look into birth control and other contraceptives to prevent any unwanted pregnancies. Not many kids were born during the entire Great Depression Era because families couldn’t afford them. Many people were not getting divorces but simply running away because getting a divorced cost too much and they couldn’t live with their struggling family anymore. Many women were forced to look into prostitution just so they could make money for their families. There were no other job opportunities available for people at the time. Many young males went back to school searching for an education so they may be able to find a job once they got out of school.5 Also many males opted to not start families until they could actually afford it causing the marriage rate to go down as well. Family life greatly decreased during this time.
The social life of people during this time changed dramatically as well as their cultural lives. Many people started to turn to social media during this time so that they could deal with the hard times. People started watching sports and movies so that they could forget their problems. The radio grew tremendously as well. People were start listen to the radio for hope. FDR started fireside chats over the radio to try to talk to the people to somehow give them hope and cheer them up during their rough times.
The Great Depression changed America and the lives of people greatly. People’s lives after the Great Depression will never be the same. Many people with new jobs and living in new place cannot go back to their old lives.
The social life of people during this time changed dramatically as well as their cultural lives. Many people started to turn to social media during this time so that they could deal with the hard times. People started watching sports and movies so that they could forget their problems. The radio grew tremendously as well. People were start listen to the radio for hope. FDR started fireside chats over the radio to try to talk to the people to somehow give them hope and cheer them up during their rough times.
The Great Depression changed America and the lives of people greatly. People’s lives after the Great Depression will never be the same. Many people with new jobs and living in new place cannot go back to their old lives.