What Caused The Great Depression Essay

Joshua Bradshaw
Mr. Brown
English 11 B/Period 4
18 March 2016
Causes and Effects of the Great Depression Over the course of the Great Depression, the United States’ economic and social well-being was immensely impacted. Debate on what one thing caused the Depression is futile as it was an accumulation of many different events. Although different, these events, as result, caused the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s took its toll on the failing farms. Along with the stock market crash of 1929, overproduction, and corruption in the world economy, the United States plummeted into the worst economic depression it had ever experienced. The effects of the magnitude of this tragedy soon followed. Unemployment rates skyrocketed as a result
Immediately after the stock market crash of 1929, people rushed the banks to find that they did not have their money (Galbraith 160). People were absolutely devastated to find that their life savings were gone (Galbraith 108). Families’ ways of life were clearly compromised by the loss of all their money. People who were affected had to face the bitter fact that everything they had worked for was gone in a matter of days. As the country slipped into depression, jobs became harder to find, almost impossible for some (Harrison 115). From adults to children, the devastating unemployment changed how these affected families lived. Life for most Americans would never be the same after the Great Depression hit. Whether it was poverty or the new jobs (if any) that people were experiencing, society was changing. A direct source described his migration as a very different and eye-opening experience (Harrison 123). Many other Americans were forced to migrate just like this man had to. In general, moving away from one’s hometown is like taking a piece of their life away. This experience (for most families) was mixed with the stress and suffering that comes from unemployment. The devastating changes to society were a direct result of the Great Depression. Action needed to be taken to fix the problems that were causing so much pain and uncertainty brought on by the Depression. Similar to American society, the
A man by the name of A. Cleveland Harrison recounted his experiences of his childhood at that time (Harrison 115). Through the perspective of modern eyes, these experiences show the difficulties and struggles of the family. This man recalls (in a normal tone) his own business of selling eggs as a boy as well as his father’s excitement after finally finding a job (Harrison 115). Both experiences represent the significance of the impact the Great Depression had on this boy’s (and others’) life. Due to a lack of money caused by unemployment, this boy had to work to help his family. Most American children today grow up without any responsibilities other than to make a play-date and go to school. The children of the Great Depression (although used to it as detected through Harrison’s tone) balanced school and work, unlike most children today. As this man’s father found a job, his reaction implicitly shows the true struggle that adults experienced as they tried to carry the burden of making a substantial income. Families, including the one of Harrison, were forced to migrate for reasons mainly centered around the lack of jobs (Harrison 122). As a result, this man moved into a mixed race neighborhood, changing his perspective and way of life (Harrison 123). While working, this boy (at the time) was forced into a situation where change was inevitable. Mixed