Emma

 The years between 1929 and 1939, the Great Depression, were some of the hardest times the nation had faced. The stock markets crashed starting in October of 1929 on the New York Stock Exchange. Not only did this affect America, but it also affected the rest of the World’s economies as well. The Great Depression changed the way Americans lived in the 1930’s. Due to economic struggles many Americans lost jobs, the banks failed, and agriculture came to a halt. The struggles changed American life in the decade.

 The Great Depression came as a huge halt after the Roaring 20’s. During the 20’s many Americans became consumers due to the large manufacturing of products. Ford’s Model T car was a great example of this. Once the stock markets crashed in 1929, Americans could not afford all of the luxuries that they were used to in the 20’s. Many American workers lost their jobs because the businesses could not pay them anymore. This resulted in a drop to 54 percent in the manufacturing output. Almost 12 or 15 million workers were unemployed, which was 25 to 30 percent of the workforce (About). About one to two million Americans were homeless and hungry because they were unemployed (Bryant).

 Farmers were really hit hard during the Great Depression. The production of farming had been declining since the 20’s, but the Great Depression foreclosed a lot of farms. Farms already had to deal with high debts and selling goods at low prices. The 30’s also brought in a new storm of trouble and that was the severe weather. The Great Plains became known as the Dust Bowl because of the severe drought that struck many farms. Production was at a low and the farmers could not pay off their debts so the banks had to foreclose the farms.

 The Depression in the 30’s brought on the bank crisis. In 1933, almost 11,000 out of 25,000 banks failed in the US. Americans that had their money in the failed banks lost their cash and others just kept their money in their possessions. The banks that remained open had certain restrictions of the amount that could have been withdrawn. “Bank Holiday” was declared by the President to give the banks three days to collect themselves (Bank).

 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected as President in 1932 and had a tough job ahead of him. FDR took action in his first hundred days of this presidency. He took many steps through his New Deal that helped during the Depression. The banks and farmers were helped. Funding went to those who were unemployed and hungry. In 1935, the Social Security Act set up welfare for the unemployed and needs for the elderly or poor. All of these steps helped the country during the Depression and even after (American).

 The Great Depression changed the American lifestyle from what is was before in the 20’s. Americans who were working before may have lost their jobs and were hungry as a result of the Depression. The Depression put farmers through foreclosures. Most banks failed and Americans lost their money that was in the banks putting them through tough economical issues. FDR created the New Deal which gave Americans a little hope as it helped those who were in need. Americans were forced to change the way they lived in the decade of the Great Depression. Works Cited "About the Great Depression." Welcome to English Â« Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. < [|__http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/about.htm__] >. "American President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: A Life in Brief." Miller Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. < [|__http://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/essays/biography/1__] >. "Bank Failures during the 1930s Great Depression." Wessels Living History Farm, Inc.. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. < [|__http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/money_08.html__] >. Bryant, Joyce. "The Great Depression and New Deal." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. < [|__http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/4/98.04.04.x.html__] >.