How did people deal with the Great Depression?

Answer 1

The Great Depression-

The Great Depression did not affect everyone the same way. Many rich people felt no impact at all, and were oblivious to the suffering of others. Up to 40% of the country never faced real hardship during those years. But most were touched by it in some way. The Depression changed the family in dramatic ways. Many couples delayed marriage - the divorce rate dropped sharply (it was too expensive to pay the legal fees and support two households); and birth rates dropped below the replacement level for the first time in American history. Families suffered a dramatic loss of income during Herbert Hoover's term in office, dropping 35% in those four years to $15M. This put a great deal of stress on families. Some reacted by pulling together, making due with what they had, and turning to family and friends for help. Only after exhausting all alternatives would they reluctantly look to the government for help. Other families did not fare as well, and ended up failing apart.

How did people survive?

• Minimize expenses. If you have extra money, use it to put your family in the best position possible to survive a potential depression. Purchase tools, necessary kitchen equipment, garden necessities, fishing gear, and other items to help improve your measure of self-sufficiency.
• Buy American. As much as possible, avoid purchasing imported goods and look for American-made products to help our country pull itself out of the recession. You may have to track down companies online and ask local shops to carry American-made goods. The extra dollars spent are well worth it. If we all followed this practice, imagine the outcome. Keep your money here; don't send it overseas.
• Seek multiple income opportunities, rather than relying on one sector or one company for the family's support. If your job is highly secure, you're in a better position, but still look for side income opportunities. If your job is threatened or unstable, build up additional income sources right away.
• Produce and preserve food. We plan to have a large family garden and our own laying hens in the backyard. As local fruits and vegetables come into season, I will pick and preserve my own - strawberry preserves, frozen peaches and jarred apple sauce are all simple to put up from local, inexpensive bounty.
• Stay hopeful, pray for guidance and do not lose the joy of life.

There were a few lucky people who retained their jobs during the Great Depression. Some were able to obtain part-time work and lived on less income and perhaps what little savings they had. Some sold or lost their homes and moved in with relatives. The symbol of the Depression, the man on the street selling apples, was an attempt to create work and also sell an agricultural product. It was not very successful. Many men left home so they would not be a burden to their family. These became the "hoboes" who would often "ride the rails" searching for jobs in other parts of the country. If they found work, they would send some money home. Others pretended to go to work. They would leave home in the morning and wander the parks or streets looking for work, and then return home for the evening. Many took to begging. In small, rural areas, men would often approach a farm house and ask if there were any jobs to be done in return for some food or a place to sleep. Some turned to crime but since most people were not well off, criminals often were not too successful. Many took advantage of the New Deal programs and went to work for the federal government. Others survived on the meals provided by charity groups.

Restrict spending to the minimum. Buy only from friends in local businesses who in turn would buy your wares. Save as much as possible but not in banks.

Keep a low profile --- collect scraps and reuse them. Keep the family strong. Buy land for cash when possible.

Answer 2

I was not around for the "Great Depression" but I have learned a few things from my family history.

1.Communities pulled together. Those who had shared with those who did not. Friends, family, churches helped each other. Some people were even willing to

take in other families -into already cramped quarters by todays standards.

2.People were used to not having as much back then (compared to today) even

before the Depression - they were more appreciative to have a few simple needs met.

3.People were more self reliant. They often had large gardens to grow their own

food. They canned. They fished and hunted and stored up for the winter. More

people knew how to make their own things.

4.There was one member of my family that camped out in the town park for the

summer with their family. They were working, but they saved money by not

having to pay rent for a few months. When cold weather came they had extra

money. How many local governments would allow people to do this today? The

"kids" fondly remember this as a great summer.

Prejudice and discrimination

Answer 3

In the US, the Great Depression was an economic disaster. Common people dealt with it by belong careful about their household budgets. Money was set aside for essentials such as food and clothing. Citizens who able to work were continually looking for employment. The unemployment rate rose as high as 25%.

Answer 4

the president of that time made a ton of jobs like digging ditches and building roads to get people money and created social securty to protect people's money and identity.

Answer 5

The people during the great dpression times sleeped along the streets and fed themselves with little amount of food that the government provided.

Answer 6

they ate cheese