Effects on Family
During the Great Depression families had to survive on little money and focus on the necessities of life. Wages went from $25 a week in a job for manufacturing in 1929 to $16 a week in 1933. Bread cost seven cents a loaf, eggs were twenty-nine cents a dozen, and milk was ten cents a quart all in 1933. This made it very difficult for families to make ends meet. Many families started their own gardens to produce food. Unemployment effected men the most, especially those between the ages of 35-55. This was a time in their lives when family responsibilities were the greatest.
"They hung around street corners and in groups. They gave each other solace. They were loath to go home because they were indicted, as if it were their fault for being unemployed. A jobless man was a lazy good-for-nothing. The women punished the men for not bringing home the bacon, by withholding themselves sexually... These men suffered from depression. They felt despised, they were ashamed of themselves. They cringed, they comforted one another. They avoided home."
In the poorest of families, children would take turns eating. Children had no toys to play with, as a family couldn't afford luxury items. Some children even had no food and clothing. If you had an older sibling, you often got their hand-me-down clothing. Many parents made their children work to earn extra income for the family. In 1938 the government passed the Labor Standards Act. It set the minimum age for dangerous occupations to eighteen, sixteen for company jobs done during school hours, and fourteen for non-manufacturing jobs completed after school hours. After this act, many children would lie about their age to still be able to work. Employers often hired children as they could be hired and fired easily because they were less likely to speak out about harsh treatments. Many employers paid children far less than adults, as they didn't know any better.
"They hung around street corners and in groups. They gave each other solace. They were loath to go home because they were indicted, as if it were their fault for being unemployed. A jobless man was a lazy good-for-nothing. The women punished the men for not bringing home the bacon, by withholding themselves sexually... These men suffered from depression. They felt despised, they were ashamed of themselves. They cringed, they comforted one another. They avoided home."
In the poorest of families, children would take turns eating. Children had no toys to play with, as a family couldn't afford luxury items. Some children even had no food and clothing. If you had an older sibling, you often got their hand-me-down clothing. Many parents made their children work to earn extra income for the family. In 1938 the government passed the Labor Standards Act. It set the minimum age for dangerous occupations to eighteen, sixteen for company jobs done during school hours, and fourteen for non-manufacturing jobs completed after school hours. After this act, many children would lie about their age to still be able to work. Employers often hired children as they could be hired and fired easily because they were less likely to speak out about harsh treatments. Many employers paid children far less than adults, as they didn't know any better.
Farmers
Farmers were facing hard times even before the crash in 1929. Prices for crops were low, many droughts, and debt all made American farmers very poor and in poverty. During WWI farmers worked extremely hard to produce crops and livestock. Once the war was over, there wasn't as high of a demand, therefore prices fell. Farmers tried to fix this by producing even more. This only made matters worse and in 1930 prices were so low that farmers were already going bankrupt.
Many farmers became angry and wanted the government to do something. In Le Mars, Iowa a crowd of angry farmers came into a court room and took the judge from the bench. They brought him out of town and tried to make him promise that he wouldn't accept any cases that would cost a farm family their farm. When the judge refused, the mob threatened to hang him. The mob eventually broke up, but left the judge in a dazed state. The governor of Iowa called the National Guard out and they brought most of the leaders of the mob to jail.
Many farmers went on strike. They threatened to not distribute milk and built blockades that prevented any truck carrying milk or other dairy product to turn around and go home. They called this "The Farm Strike".
Some people say that farmers had it better than city people. Farmers could produce their own food and most had large family gardens. They also had fruit orchards and were able to can most of their produce. Farmers could get milk from their cattle and make make butter with it too. Many farmers had chickens that supplied eggs and meat. All these things city dwellers couldn't do, and they had to pay for them to have these things.
Many farmers became angry and wanted the government to do something. In Le Mars, Iowa a crowd of angry farmers came into a court room and took the judge from the bench. They brought him out of town and tried to make him promise that he wouldn't accept any cases that would cost a farm family their farm. When the judge refused, the mob threatened to hang him. The mob eventually broke up, but left the judge in a dazed state. The governor of Iowa called the National Guard out and they brought most of the leaders of the mob to jail.
Many farmers went on strike. They threatened to not distribute milk and built blockades that prevented any truck carrying milk or other dairy product to turn around and go home. They called this "The Farm Strike".
Some people say that farmers had it better than city people. Farmers could produce their own food and most had large family gardens. They also had fruit orchards and were able to can most of their produce. Farmers could get milk from their cattle and make make butter with it too. Many farmers had chickens that supplied eggs and meat. All these things city dwellers couldn't do, and they had to pay for them to have these things.
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