The Great Depression In America In The 1930's

Though it would come to be known as one of the most trying times in American history, President Hoover and other leaders initially underestimated the depression. Hoover called it “a passing incident in our national lives,” and assured Americans that it would be over in 60 days.21 The only difference at the end of those two months was the unemployment rate, and it was going up. During the years following the Stock Market Crash consumer spending and investing dropped. These declines lead to less industrial output and resulted in rising unemployment as companies were forced to lay off workers. By 1930, four million Americans were out of work; by 1931, that number was six million. In 1933, the worst year of the depression, it is estimated that 13 to 15 million Americans didn’t have jobs. That was roughly 25 percent of the country 's population at the time.22 Workers …show more content…
A study done by the Health Department in New York City in 1932 found that 20 percent of children suffered from malnutrition.23 Dietary diseases were widespread in the poorest parts of the country where families couldn 't afford food such as milk, fruit, fresh vegetables, and eggs. Teenagers of the time were known to "ride the rails" a term for running away on freight trains. Many of these teenagers felt that they were a burden of their family. They sought adventure and independence, but most of all they were looking for a better life. During the height of the Great Depression, it is estimated that 250,000 teenagers were traveling America by train.24 Often entire families would uproot their lives and travel the country in search of better conditions. Most of these families would travel by car, stopping at campsites set up by other drifters to look for work in the area. Those who had formerly worked on Wall Street or in banks found themselves out of work and struggling to support their families. The college degrees of many middle class citizens were