The Great Depression was an extremely large national crisis that brought despair to people just about when they were starting to change their lives. Socially, the depression was a burden just as it was politically or economically. the crime rate in cities went up uncontrollably. Many unemployed workers would commit petty theft to bring food to the table. Not only did the crime rates but the mortality rates weren't far behind. Most cases were malnutrition for the unemployed families and suicide for those who couldn't handle the huge money loss. Education also suffered heavily. Universities saw their student body decrease in the first decade of the depression. However, male attendance at high schools. Since their chances of getting a job were low, they decided to stay in school longer. But public school funding went down drastically, causing schools to close down or open understaffed. Marriages were delayed because men had to find a job before they were ready to provide for a family. Birth rates went down as Americans decided that they couldn't afford to have more children to feed.
But as time went on, there were many who decided to make the best of times. Sports were used as one of the major distractions for people. Classics such as The Bride of Frankenstein, Gone With The Wind and It Happened One Night were peoples' favorites. Radio didn't go out trend, as anyone who owned a radio before the crash could listen for free. Many radio celebrities would keep them well informed. Alcohol often helped people drown their sorrows and smoking was more common. The Prohibition Act was repealed in 1933 so drinking was legal and could be sold freely.
In someway, the depression helped the American society change. Many families united and helped each other. Mass migration decreased the population and reshaped the mosaic that was known as America. Many large businesses perished, while smaller ones grew with stronger with the support of others. There were just as many people who were hopeful as much as there were those who had no hope for the future.
I really enjoyed reading your post and how you managed to discuss the many aspects of social life during this era and not just focus on one specific detail. Not only do you discuss the difficulties of the era but also take in the idea of the culture of many Americans at this time, including literature and cinema. However, it is important to note that much of the reason for people becoming more involved in literature and the arts was as a means of escape from the harsh world of reality, thus inspiring a new wave of actors, writers, and composers. For further investigation, here is a suggested link that possesses great supplementary on the culture and impact of the Great Depression on industries like Hollywood:http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/how-the-great-depression-inspired-hollywoods-golden-age-26481978.html
ReplyDeleteVery informative post! I agree with you that sports and films helped relieve people from the stresses of the Great Depression, where by building a community within these activities, this would be another way for people to gain more hope for future positive changes and find comfort in a supportive group of people who all faced similar challenges. Adding on to your ideas of what people did to relieve their hardships during the Great Depression, literature was another example of entertainment for people; popular books often focused on characters who were making efforts to improve society, which as a result, made people feel more hopeful about their own society improving.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_14.html
I like this post because you show both sides of society during the Great Depression, the hopeful people who are trying to further themselves despite the economic crash and the people who have lost everything and need an escape. It is surprising that people were able to attend movies and sporting events because so many people could not afford to eat. It is a wonder that some where able to afford a distraction. It makes sense that the crime rate went up because as we learned in class the cities were unable to afford police men so there was no one to enforce the laws and protect the citizens. Another distraction that gave people hope was the President giving speeches through the radio which a lot of people had access to. His words were able to inspire people and make them feel better about the nearly hopeless situation. For more information on how Roosevelt worked to encourage and employ the people during the depression - https://dp.la/exhibitions/exhibits/show/new-deal/recovery-programs
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