great depression essay examples

109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples

Welcome to our list of the Great Depression topics! Here, you will find writing ideas about the causes and effects of the Great Depression. You can also pick plenty of related issues to debate.

🔝 Top 10 Great Depression Topics to Write About

🏆 best great depression topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 good great depression essay topics, ⭐ interesting topics to write about great depression, ❓ great depression essay questions, 🔎 great depression research topics.

• The Stock Market Crash of 1929
• What Triggered the Great Depression?
• Lessons Learned from the Great Depression
• The Dust Bowl Disaster and Its Role in the Depression
• How Banks Caused the Collapse of the Economy
• Government’s Response to the Great Depression
• The Great Depression and International Relations
• Unemployment and Poverty During the Depression
• Hardship and Resilience in Literature of the Great Depression
• The Impact of the Great Depression on Population Movements
• Cause and Effects of The Great Depression The economic devastation of the 1920s led to the Great Depression and brought a tragedy for the whole society. Crash of stock market The crash of the stock market in 1929 ushered in the Great […]
• The Reality of the Great Depression in Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” The journey of the Joad family and other significant characters in the story who played the roles in building the whole context take the path of meeting miserable economic situations.
• Public Enemies During the Great Depression In the 1930’s most people in America were feeling the impact of the Great Depression due to the crashed economy. During the great depression, most people were facing the challenges of starving and losing their […]
• The Impact of the Great Depression on Canada Some of the measures that Bennett put in place included camps to support the old and sick as well as the distribution of aid to the unemployed and disadvantaged in the country.
• The Causal-Effect Connection of the Great Depression According to majority of the authors and scholars, The Great Depression is the worst economic downturn in the history of the United States of America.
• Great Depression and Cold War: Making of Modern America This paper will explore the causes of the Great Depression, the measures implemented within the New Deal, Cold War tensions, and the changes to the American society by the civil rights movement.
• The History of Great Depression The Great Depression was the most severe recession of the past centuries. It affected the whole world and lasted for approximately 12 years.
• Great Depression: Annotated Bibliography This is a secondary source, written in 2020, and its main idea is that shocks of uncertainty had the main effect on the changes during the Great Depression, which contributed to the fall in production.
• President Hoover’s Role During the Great Depression Although a significant percentage of the causative constituents emanated from the previous government’s economic strategies, President Hoover elevated the conditional outlier.
• Impact of the Great Depression and the New Deal on Minorities However, despite the intention to promote democracy and equality in the United States, the impact of the Great Depression was devastating, and the New Deal did not solve most problems among minorities.
• Social Work During the Great Depression and COVID-19 Pandemic Social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were faced with a series of novice challenges similar to their counterparts in the Great Depression.
• The Great Depression: Prerequisites, Essence, and Consequences As a result of the crisis and the rise of protectionism, according to the League of Nations, world trade fell threefold from 1929 to 1933.
• How New Deal Represented Minorities and Ended the Great Depression The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration were some of the many programs representing minorities in the New Deal.
• The Concepts of Freedom and the Great Depression Furthermore, blacks were elected to construct the constitution, and black delegates fought for the rights of freedpeople and all Americans. African-Americans gained the freedom to vote, work, and be elected to government offices during Black […]
• Economic History of the US: The Great Depression The government’s immediate and unprecedented action brought the state out of the crisis and preserved the system of capitalism. In order to restore the security of Americans in the new deal, Congress and the President […]
• The Contribution of Former U.S. Presidents in Overcoming the Great Depression The Great Depression presents an event in which the U.S.developed progressive leadership policies to improve living standards. Modern politics in the U.S.has caused social divisions similar to the period of Unravelling.
• American History: Great Depression and Other Issues One of the causes of the Great Depression was the international economic woes of the United States of America. One of the actions taken by the Hoover administration to combat the depression was urging the […]
• The Great Depression, Volatility and Employee Morale A?” The purpose of the present investigation study is to understand the morale of employees in corporate America on how it affects the way the economy functions in the United States.
• Stories From the Great Depression: President Roosevelt At the same time, the era of the Great Depression was the time when many Americans resorted to their wit and creativity.
• Gender, Family, and Unemployment in Ontario’s Great Depression The introduction and all the background that Campbell gives are firmly in line with the goals of this course. The first part of the study is the business and the economic history.
• The Causes of the Great Depression: Black Tuesday and Panic Historians relate the end of the great depression to the start of the second-word war. The government then came up with packages that sought to lessen the effects of the depression.
• John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” and the Great Depression The Grapes of Wrath begins by describing an occurrence of soil erosion in Dust Bowl Oklahoma that led to the destruction of crops, a decline in farming and farm produce and the migration of farmers […]
• The Great Depression in Canada Before the onset of the Great Depression from the years 1919-1929, Canada had the fastest growing economy amongst the developing nations and the only blip to this record was the slight recession they suffered during […]
• The Great Depression of 1929 This was the program that opened the eyes of the people to the fact that the depression era did not affect just the low bracket of society and that if they were to overcome it, […]
• The Great Depression Period Analysis The main causes for the Great Depression were a combination of unequally distributed wealth, the stock market crash, and eventually the bank failures.
• Great Depression and the American People’s Relationship With Their Government In this essay, I will try to trace the effects of the depression not just on the people who lived it but also among the present Americans.
• How the Great Depression Changed Americans During the depression, the population experienced intense pain and extensive misery and the event has been blamed for leading to calamities such as World War II and the rising to power of Adolf Hitler.
• America in 1920s: Great Depression Regarding the issue of credit exploration in the 1920s, and the contribution of the credit’s expansion into the process of onset of the Great Depression, it is necessary to refer to the facts from American […]
• History of the Great Depression and the New Deal According to the prominent American economist John Keyne, the main cause of the Great Depression was the shortage of money supply, which was dependant on the gold reserve, in the meantime, the industry output significantly […]
• Great Depression of Canada and Conscription During World War I in Canada Due to the depression in the United States, the people across the border were not able to buy the wheat produced and cultivated in Canada and as a result, the exports declined.
• The Great Depression in Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” The family adjusted to the codes of conduct in the camp, and Tom even managed to find a job picking fruits at a local farm.
• Great Depression in “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty The first few paragraphs of the story are dedicated specifically to painting the image of the old Afro-American woman in the mind of the reader by providing details on her appearance, closing, her manners of […]
• Great Depression in the United States The Great Depression of the 1930’s is the most significant economic crises in the history of the modern world and the United States, in particular.
• Great Depression 1930s: Economic Crisis and Global Impact The primary purpose of the paper is to examine the problem of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Stagflation of the 1970s and 1980s, and provide the Keynesian and monetarist solution.
• American Great Depression and New Deal Reforms What is definitely certain is that many factors like the shifting of the economy, unstable credit and financial system, poor government decisions, and the fact that the international economy was still recovering from ruinous effects […]
• Child Labor, Great Depression and World War II in Photographs The impression is of isolation and yearning for daylight, freedom, and a childhood foregone, in the midst of a machine-dominated world.
• The Great Depression in the US and Its Causes It was believed at the time that even if a person failed to pay back their loan, the seizure of assets to cover the cost of the loan in the form of stocks would have […]
• Women’s Rights in the Great Depression Period The pursuit of the workplace equality and the protection of women from unfair treatment by the employers were quite unsuccessful and slow due to the major division in the opinions.
• The Great Depression and the New Deal Phenomenon With time, due to the highly unequal distribution of income, as well as to the depression in farming regions, the buying capacity of Americans decreased significantly; this led to the inability to purchase the goods […]
• Gardens Role in Great Depression Although the main causes of the great depression are still vague and contentious to date, the overall outcome was unexpected and resulted in the universal loss of trust in the economic future.
• Roosevelt’s Plan to End the Great Depression When he assumed the presidency in 1932, Franklin acknowledged the challenges of the nation, and also the way to get them out of the great depression.
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Plans to Combat the Great Depression He came to power in 1933 when the United States was in the middle of the Great Depression, and left in 1945 when the world, including the USA, was grappling with the effects of the […]
• Is the U.S. Headed Towards the Second Great Depression? This is one of the indicators economists observe to foresee the possibility of the economy diving in to a recession, or is already on the way to recession.
• Repercussion of Great Depression The US mortgage crisis that was the genesis of the financial crisis is blamed on the laxity of law enforcers or failure of the laws that have governed the financial market in the US.
• Why the Great Depression Occurred – a Public Budgeting Stand Point As observed by Romer, “the great depression took place in the late 1920s to the late 1930s and was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced in the industrialized Western world”.
• The Great Depression: A Diary The book covers very little on the normal lifestyle of the people in Youngstown before the crisis; all that it documents are the hardships that describe Ohio as a hopeless place to live.
• The Great Depression’ Influence on the World His book looks at the factors that have caused and prolonged the issues that have deprived many people of jobs and ability to come out of the atrocious conditions.
• In the Eye of the Great Depression It led to the formation of groupings in society due to their similarities in their plight to restore dignity and compassion to their lives.
• Causes of the Great Depression This was due to a prediction of the end of rise in the stock market thus; there was a nationwide stampede to unload the stocks.
• Monetary and Fiscal Policy during the Great Depression An expansionary monetary policy is any action by the Fed that results in an increase to the total output or aggregate demand in an economy.
• Economic Depression in USA The Depression of 1873-1879 This depression was as a result of the bankruptcy of the railroad investment firm of Jay Cooke and company and particularly the restrictive monetary policy of the federal government; this is […]
• The Actual Causes of the Great Depression In the period between the end of First World War and the onset of the great depression, United States enjoyed relatively stable economic conditions under the leadership of a string of republican presidents.
• Government Policy Interventions and the Great Depression Monetary policy is the process where the government intervenes by administering and controlling the amount of money in the economy using the Central Bank in many countries and the Federal Reserve in the United States.
• Problem of USA Exposed by the Great Depression The recession was triggered by various fiscal features such as the vast margin between the poor and the wealthy, government debts and surplus production of commodities only to mention a few.
• The Great Depression Effects on American Economy The main problem behind the stated Great Depression experienced in the United States in 1929 was the mismatch between the consuming capacity of the population of the United States and the production capacity of the […]
• Great Depression as a Worldwide Economic Decline Many people ceased to buy products leading to low production of the products. This led to lose of market for American industries and led to trade disagreements among nations.
• The Great Depression Crisis Other causes that led to a reduction in aggregate demand followed throughout the depression period and the effects were transmitted from the United States which was in essence the ‘epicenter’ of the depression to the […]
• The Great Depression in Latin America Leaders in Latin America acknowledged the need to change economic policies and promoted the discarding of the free-market model in favor of import substitution.
• The Three Main Causes of Great Depression This paper sheds light on the causes that led to the great depression in America According to Bordo and White, the great depression begun in 1929 and many people suffered because all the businesses had […]
• Did Bank Distress Stifle Innovation During the Great Depression?
• How Does “The Cinderella Man” Depict Life During the Great Depression?
• Could the FED Have Prevented the Great Depression?
• How Did the Great Depression Affect a Generation?
• Did American Welfare Capitalists Breach Their Implicit Contracts During the Great Depression?
• How Does the Great Depression Affect the World Economy?
• Could the Great Depression Be Describes a Time of Desperation?
• How Did the Great Depression Pave the Road for Hitler?
• Did France Cause the Great Depression?
• How Did Demographics Cause the Great Depression?
• Did Hayek and Robbins Deepen the Great Depression?
• How Did Black People Face the Great Depression Differently?
• Did International Economic Forces Cause the Great Depression?
• How Did Governments Deal With Problems Caused by the Great Depression?
• Did Korekiyo Takahashi Rescue Japan From the Great Depression?
• How Did Great Britain, France, and the United States Respond to the Great Depression?
• Did Monetary Forces Cause the Great Depression?
• How Did the Great Depression Completely Destroy America?
• Did Sunspot Forces Cause the Great Depression?
• How Did WWII End the Great Depression?
• Did Technology Shocks Drive the Great Depression?
• How Does the Current Global Economic Recession Compare to the Great Depression?
• Did the Canadian Government Do Enough During the Great Depression?
• How Franklin Delano Roosevelt Handled the Great Depression in the U.S.?
• Did the Commercial Paper Funding Facility Prevent a Great Depression Style Money Market Meltdown?
• How Great Was the Great Depression?
• Did the Great Depression Affect Educational Attainment in the US?
• How Has Homelessness Changed Since the Great Depression?
• Did the New Deal Prolong or Worsen the Great Depression?
• How Did Income Inequality Lead to the Great Depression?
• The Agricultural Crisis During the Great Depression
• Government Relief Programs of the Depression Era
• How the Great Depression Impacted Minority Communities
• The Political Consequences of the Stock Market Crash
• Hoover vs. Roosevelt’s Approaches to Economic Recovery
• The Psychological Effects of the Great Depression on People and Families
• The Role of Government in Economic Recovery during the Great Depression
• The Legacy of Labor Unions and Workers’ Rights of the Depression Era
• Gender Roles, Employment, and Social Changes During the Depression Era
• The Legacy of the Great Depression as Seen in the Modern Economic Policy
• Economic Topics
• Cold War Topics
• Private Equity Research Ideas
• Social Democracy Essay Titles
• International Politics Questions
• Macroeconomics Topics
• American Revolution Topics
• Franklin Roosevelt Questions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, November 18). 109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/great-depression-essay-examples/

"109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples." IvyPanda , 18 Nov. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/great-depression-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples'. 18 November.

IvyPanda . 2024. "109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples." November 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/great-depression-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples." November 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/great-depression-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "109 Great Depression Topics to Write about & Examples." November 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/great-depression-essay-examples/.

💲 The Great Depression Essays

How did the great depression lead to wwii.

The Great Depression (1929-1939) describes a period of the global economic recession that first began in the United States and soon spread all over the…

Causes of the Great Depression

The Great Depression was a significant economic downturn that affected the well-being of multiple nations, businesses, industries, and families worldwide. Great Depression perpetuated unemployment due…

Great Depression Vs. Great Recession Essay

The great depression and recession were the worst economic downturns in the history of the industrialized world. The causes and impacts of the same remain…

The New Deal And The Great Depression

Introduction The Great Depression was a period from 1929 to 1941, during which a significant part of the US economy crashed, and many of the…

World War I: Remembering the War to End All Wars

The year is 1918 and as an American soldier fighting in the World War for almost two years, I am much relieved to return home…

Differences in policies for ending the Great Depression

Grossman and Meissner (318) argue that despite the economic stagnation that most countries witnessed during the subprime crisis, the Great Depression is undoubtedly the longest…

US Economic History 1920s/50s/Depression

The US experienced periods of economic downfalls and improvements in between the emergence of World War I and II.  The economic situation of the country…

Difference in American lives before the New Deal in 1933

The Great Depression which started in 1929 had an array of social and economic implications for a majority of American lives. Few people escaped the…

The New Deal

The Great Depression put America’s economy to its knees that it needed drastic economic policies to lift America from depression. Having this desperate economic backdrop…

What is the best site to search for quality The Great Depression paper samples?

Visit GradeMiners, and you will be sure that it is the best site with top-quality essays about the Great Depression and relevant topics.

How to use The Great Depression essay samples to create my own paper?

There are various options for using our samples. So, you may refer to us as a credible source of information and bibliography, and interesting ideas may inspire you on creative writing and give tips about the structure.

Is it allowed to submit your samples as mine?

We do not offer to do these since, due to free access to our site, other students could copy the same text and submit it earlier.

How many college papers and essay samples do you have in your directory?

Our rich database constantly grows and is filled with new essays on the great Depression and other similar topics.

The Great Depression is a horrific yet prominent event in the history of America and its economy. Therefore, an academic paper on the Great Depression requires an analysis of related historical events and figures.GradeMiners has a rich database of various topics for writers looking for relevant and credible research literature. Getting well-versed on the issue is best to start your paper.

The Great Depression Essay Examples and Their Peculiarities

In 1929-1939, Americans faced the darkest pages known as the Great Depression. It is first associated with the unemployment and poverty of millions of people worldwide. The powerful figure who helped the country out of the economic crisis and World War 2 was Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. He effectively utilized all his strength to unite and restore the nation from the Depression.

Assignments on historical topics are quite common in colleges and universities. For example, when writing essays on the Great Depression, students must conduct critical analyses to reveal facts on the issue. Making judgments based on actual and objective data is crucial in academic writing. So, this approach is key to the successful accomplishment of the task.

Samples to Master Essay on The Great Depression

As a writer, you may feel frustrated if history has never been your strength. However, the desire to nail the task by no means can lead you to our database of The Great Depression essays. Learn how to apply them efficiently to fulfill the requirements of your paper.

Activate Creativity with Diverse Samples

Serve our essay database as a great method to encourage new insights and approaches for your essay on the Great Depression. Don’t know how? Push the boundaries of your creativity just by revising a few samples. You will access unbiased content and get well-informed on the issue with little effort. So, the process will surely make you think outside the box.

Moreover, our database is perfect for avoiding long-lasting research processes and disinformation on the net. Our examples contain only credible data since our writers used relevant and trustworthy resources to develop them. Don’t hesitate to reach them if you need a convincing bibliography for your essay and inspiration.

Right Topic and Format Matter

Now that you have tickled your creative mind, it’s high time to select a good topic. So, after looking through thought-provoking and gripping titles on the issue, we guarantee the discovery of the most interesting and suitable topic for you and your audience.

On top of that, the right essay planning is crucial for high grades. However, it can be tricky for an amateur writer to cope with the specific demands of particular essay types. So, if you need proper guidance to meet formatting requirements, follow the structure of the Great Depression paper sample on the site.

Change the Trajectory for the Better with Top Writers

We hire only a professional team of writers and proofreaders. So, in our platform, all essays about the Great Depression are developed by top specialists in this domain. If you need quality assurance for future collaboration, skim several pages of impeccable samples.

The Great Depression Essay Paper of Cutting-Edge Quality Online

Our database aims to alleviate your writing challenges with inspiring history dissertation ideas and fascinating history thesis topics. However, our custom annotated bibliography online writing service goes beyond free ready-made samples. Place your complex task details in the order form and get timely delivery of flawless content based on your requirements.

• American Imperialism
• American Revolution
• Columbian Exchange
• I Have a Dream
• Jim Crow Laws
• Manifest Destiny
• Native American
• Pearl Harbor

Home — Essay Samples — History — Great Depression — The Great Depression: Causes, Impact, and Government Response

The Great Depression: Causes, Impact, and Government Response

• Categories: American History Great Depression

About this sample

Words: 853 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 853 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Causes of the great depression, economic impact of the great depression, government response to the crisis.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: History

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1046 words

3 pages / 1283 words

11 pages / 4845 words

7 pages / 3196 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Great Depression

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, the world witnessed one of the most devastating economic crises in modern history – the Great Depression. The depression lasted for over a decade and heavily impacted countries across the [...]

In conclusion, John Steinbeck's writings on the Great Depression offer a profound and empathetic exploration of the era's challenges and hardships. His novels, such as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men," provide a deep [...]

Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard and released in 2005, is a film that portrays the struggle of an individual during the Great Depression. The movie provides a glimpse into the social issues and challenges faced by the [...]

In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the character of Curley’s wife stands out as a lonely and isolated figure. Despite being married to the ranch owner’s son, she is constantly seeking attention and companionship from [...]

Famed American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald could not have anticipated what was on the horizon when he penned The Great Gatsby in 1925. Fitzgerald was no prophet, but he seemed to have an innate sensibility that allowed him to [...]

The Great Depression had a massive impact on everyone throughout the United States, and any number of programs to try and improve the well-being of the American people and the economy were put into place under Franklin D. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

The Great Depression

1 the impact of the great depression on american society and economy.

Economic Hardships and Family Experiences During the Great Depression The great depression, as it was known in the U.S., was a time of economic failure and agricultural distress. Even way back when gum was only like 5 cents before this, the price probably jumped to like 25 cents if you could reliably find good gum. […]

2 The Great Depression: Lessons for Society, Economy, and Government

The Roaring 20s’ Economic Mirage The Roaring 20s was one of the most prosperous times in American History. The Stock Market skyrocketed to the point where even the housemaid held an owner of one of the leading companies. Everybody had a roof, a car, and a radio of the new economic policies like installment plans […]

3 The Great Depression Entertainment Renaissance: Movies, Radio, and Music

Entertainment Flourishes Amidst Great Depression Despite the 1920s being known as the Great Depression, it was also an enormous era of advancement and success for the entertainment industry. Radios allowed people to hear the news, listen to music and other things from their own homes, movie theaters boomed with the innovation of film and animation, […]

Get Qualified Writing Assistance and an Original Paper.

A qualified writer will create a clear, plagiarism-free essay for you!

4 The Great Depression: Causes and Consequences of an Economic Catastrophe

Introduction The Great Depression had an impact on the entire world, especially the US, from 1929 to the early 1940s. One of the most influential causes of the US economic crash was the Great Depression, which was created by people making big purchases with installments, overproduction, and marginal buying. Installment Purchases and Bank Strain: Precursor […]

5 The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression: Unearthing Causes and Impact

Dust Bowl Causes: Neglect and Overexploitation Before the 1920s, the United States was a country full of farmland that stretched for what seemed like forever. There were crops to feed the nation every single year without any natural disasters. However, that did not seem to last very long. Over time, the crops began to not […]

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on Depression

The Great Depression Essay Samples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Depression , America , Great Depression , Family , Social Issues , Women , Economics , Suffering

Words: 1500

Published: 01/26/2021

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

In American history, the Great Depression ranks second as the longest and most severe crisis ever experienced only dislodged from the first position by the Civil War. The Great Depression marked a period of economic downturn that resulted in severe declines in output, acute deflation, financial insecurity and severe unemployment rates. This was a sharp contrast from the early 1920’s when the country was experiencing a period of tremendous economic growth and prosperity. The Great Depression was brought about by a number of factors that included the declining consumer demand, a natural slowdown in the cycle of business, misguided government policies, panics within the financial markets and environmental disasters among others. The effects of the Great Depression were felt on every part of the country, rural or urban, and also by everyone. From the rich to the poor, the young and the old, white Americans to African Americans, no one was spared from the devastating effects of the depression. The experiences of the millions of Americas suffering as a result of the Great Depression paint a clear picture on how severe the crisis was. Many Americans believed that it was the government’s role to alleviate them from the suffering and also offer relief aid to curb hunger and starvation. Letters sent to President Eleanor Roosevelt and other government officials together with photographs taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) show and tell the social experiences of many Americans during that period. In as much as the Great depression affected most sectors of the American Economy, human suffering in the form of lack of economic security, hunger, starvation and unemployment was the greatest economic effect of the Great Depression. According to Schultz, the social experiences of the millions of Americans during the Great Depression tell all about the depression (390). The depression affected both the urban dwellers and those living in rural America. A majority of the people lost their jobs in nearly all sectors of the economy which resulted into a lack of economic security. Many people could not have a stable income or other resources necessary to support a standard of living. Cases of unemployment and job insecurity had risen to very high numbers. As a result, a majority of the people living in the cities could not be able to support their standard of living, which led to homelessness. Without the financial stability, most people could not afford to pay their rents. Cases of homelessness grew in high proportions in all the cities with people opting to build makeshift towns in abandoned lots and parks using cardboards and other materials available. Food acquisition also became a major problem resulting in a hunger crisis. Even though the rural areas produced plenty of food, the lack of funds to support transportation prevented food from reaching the urban market places (Schultz, 391). With the hunger crisis, there came the problems of malnourishment, food riots and looting. Food riots and looting of shops had now spread to every major city. The neighborhoods inhabited mainly by African Americans suffered more than the whites due to the problem of racism that was rife during that period. The Black Americans had to rely self-help to survive during this period. The African Americans resorted to demonstrations and campaigns against the white merchants and vendors who charged more for the various consumer goods, and also the landlords that charged exorbitantly high rents. People in rural America suffered because of overproduction and the lowered revenues. With the extreme weather conditions, many crops failed thus intensifying rural poverty. Crop failures led to many of them plunge into large debts that they had acquired during the Industrial Revolution (Schultz, 391). A number of letters sent to President Roosevelt’s administration by Americans indicated the suffering that they were in as a result of the depression. In letter 51, “We Will Have to Face the Winter Naked and Hungry” by Huntsville, addressed to Mr. Woodworth, it is evident that the author was complaining about the problem of financial security that was plaguing them. The author complains that they can barely support the standard of living. The author writes that the people of Huntsville would like to know why they are working and yet cannot get any “money or food” (McElvaine, 91). This goes on to show that the Great Depression was being felt everywhere, even among the employed. The author of the letter further rants that they are on a brink of starvation. The author writes that they have not been paid in a long time as they only received one check in three months. This goes on to show that the employers, during the Great Depression could not afford to pay workers their salaries or wages. The author further notes that they would have to face the looming winter with no clothes (naked), with no food (hungry) and with no fuel (McElvaine, 91). In addition, the author of the letter complains that they cannot access any loans or credit to buy food, and families can no longer provide for themselves. S/he ends the letter with “The kids are hungry” just to emphasize on how grave the situation had become. The letter is a cry for help from the government as the author writes “Is there any way on earth you can help us” (McElvaine, 91). From this letter, is evident that the devastating effects of depression were being felt by all Americans leading to their suffering. A number of photographs taken by photographers working for Farm Security Administration (FSA) also indicated the social experiences of the people during the Great Depression. In the photograph Dorothy Lange, “The Migrant Worker” a mother is seen with her three children. The mother has her right hand in touching down the corner of her mouth, a posture likely to suggest that she is anxious. Her face also shows a frown and the wrinkles make her look older. Her face depicts misery, starvation and desperation. She also appears to be worried about something. The mother has also worn an untidy and sleeve-tattered dress which suggests poverty. Her image only evokes a viewer’s sympathy and compassion. Two of her children are resting their heads on their mother’s shoulders not facing the camera, a posture which probably suggests that they are seeking the comfort of their mother. The third child, being nursed by the mother, rests on her mother’s lap and arms. It can easily be concluded that the mother has done all she could be able to do to help her family and has nothing else to offer. She is probably suffering from desperation due to the lack of food and money. The mother and children represent the other pea pickers and many Americans demanding relief from the problem of starvation and unemployment. Another photograph that shows the suffering of Americans during the Great Depression is by Walker Evans, “Bud Fields with his second wife Lily Roger Fields and their daughter, Hale County AL.” This photograph explicitly captures the miserable and exhausting conditions that many Americans were going through during the great depression. Bud Fields is seen frail-looking and bare-chested with a piece of cloth draped over his shoulders. Bud is wearing old pants, has no shoes and is sitting on a weak wooden chair. Bud’s second wife, on the other hand, is sitting on a simple bed with a white bed sheet holding their daughter. She also has no shoes. The old and worn out clothes probably suggest that poverty was rife. The walls of their humble abode are worn out and the door open revealing a peeping woman. The photograph is a clear embodiment of the plight of the millions of Americans suffering because of the devastating effects of the Great Depression. It is a fact that the most obvious economic impact of the Great Depression in America was the human suffering. In a very short period of time the standards of living and economic outputs had dropped significantly. Unemployment rates and job insecurity soared to exceedingly higher levels ever experienced. With business slowing down, deflation rising and extreme weather events being experience, people faced the problem of economic and financial insecurity. Ultimately, the problems of homelessness due to unaffordability of their standards of living, poverty and hunger and hunger arose which meant suffering for many Americans. Americans had to change their lifestyles so as to adjust to the new way of living brought about by the Great Depression. In as much as the Great Depression period was a darker one for this nation, it brought about many changes in policies that affect us to date, and hence it was very important period of history for America.

Works Cited

McElvaine, Robert S. Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "forgotten Man". Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1983. Print. Schultz, Stanley. The Great Depression: A Primary Source History. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 2006. Print.

Cite this page

• Environment
• Information Science
• Social Issues
• Argumentative
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Compare and Contrast
• Descriptive
• Exemplification
• Informative
• Controversial
• Exploratory
• What Is an Essay
• Length of an Essay
• Generate Ideas
• Types of Essays
• Structuring an Essay
• Outline For Essay
• Essay Introduction
• Thesis Statement
• Body of an Essay
• Writing a Conclusion
• Essay Writing Tips
• Drafting an Essay
• Revision Process
• Fix a Broken Essay
• Format of an Essay
• Essay Examples
• Essay Checklist
• Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Research Paper
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Essay
• Custom Essay Writing Service
• Admission Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Essay
• Academic Ghostwriting
• Write My Book Report
• Case Study Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Lab Report Writing Service
• Do My Assignment
• Buy College Papers
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Buy Research Paper
• Custom Essays for Sale

Can’t find a perfect paper?

• Free Essay Samples
• Great Depression

Essays on Great Depression

While writing a Great Depression essay, make sure to check out the Great Depression essay samples below for some insightful ideas you can use in your own essay. The Great Depression is a long-term economic crisis in the world economy that lasted from 1929 to 1940, first starting in the US then spreading to other countries around the world. The term “Great Depression” is usually used regarding the United States, while other countries refer to it as a "world economic crisis”. Therefore, essays on the Great Depression usually explore this crisis in the US. Great Depression has affected almost all developed countries of the Western world – it was synchronous, pervasive, and affected all sectors of the global economy. It got its name due to the emotional state in which society was in. Our samples of Great Depression essays will give you more info on this topic.

Up until the Great Depression, laissez-faire and classical doctrines were widely embraced by economists and decision-makers. The industrialized world experienced protracted and widespread unemployment during this time, which made the ability of the classical model to forecast the economy into question. Maynard John Keynes, who developed the Keynesian model, was...

Words: 1312

The Great Depression of the 1930s was perhaps one of the most depressing economic downturns in American and industrialised world history (Rittenberg and Tregarthen 689). It had an undeniable impact on the worldwide economic situation at the time. Despite the causes of the Great Depression are still being contested among...

Words: 2123

A basic truth is that when he told the people a new deal, Roosevelt was a man of his word, they moved straight forward to begin its execution. History books document the fact that they began to create the cornerstone of the new order through bravery and integrity within an hour...

Found a perfect essay sample but want a unique one?

Request writing help from expert writer in you feed!

Lewis Binford’s birth took place in Norfolk in Virginia at the time of the Great Depression in 1932. The name of his father was Joseph Lewis Binford while his mother’s name was Eoline Roberts Binford. Binford went to government established schools due to his parents’ humble income. As early as...

Franklin Roosevelt and the Expansion of Presidential Powers Between 1933 and 1945, Franklin Delano Roosevelt served the longest term as president in U.S. history. He introduced a number of political and economic reforms during his time as president, which commentators consider to be the most dramatic changes in U.S. history. The...

Related topic to Great Depression

You might also like.