The Great Depression of the 1930s had a profound impact on families, altering their financial stability, daily routines, and relationships. This article examines the challenges faced by families during this economic crisis, drawing insights from various sources, including the Digital History website, History.com, and the Great Depression Project at the University of Washington.
Key Facts
- Financial Struggles:
- Many families experienced unemployment, with about a quarter of the U.S. workforce being jobless.
- Even those with steady employment often faced wage cuts or reduced working hours.
- Families had to cope with financial instability and the risk of ruin.
- Medical and dental care were often neglected due to financial constraints.
- Frugality and Self-Sufficiency:
- Families embraced frugality and practiced “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without”.
- They planted gardens, canned food, and bought used bread to save money.
- Many families went without milk or meat, despite a decline in food prices.
- Kitchen gardens and community “thrift gardens” became popular for growing food.
- Leisure and Entertainment:
- Families had limited income for leisure activities.
- Going to the movies, a popular pastime before the Depression, became less affordable.
- Neighbors gathered for card games and board games like Scrabble and Monopoly.
- Radio programs provided free entertainment, including comedy shows and sporting events.
- Miniature golf became a Depression-era craze.
- Women in the Workforce:
- Some families maintained a middle-class income by adding an extra wage earner.
- Married women entered the workforce in increasing numbers, taking clerical or service industry positions.
- Women often faced lower wages compared to their male counterparts.
- Government Support:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs provided financial aid and employment opportunities.
- Attitudes toward government assistance began to change during the Great Depression.
- Families on government support faced less stigmatization.
- Psychological Impact:
- The stress of financial strain took a toll on individuals, leading to a rise in the national suicide rate.
- Marriages became strained, and divorce rates dropped while abandonments increased.
- Many men and women became traveling hobos, leaving home in search of work.
- Crime rates initially spiked but began to fall sharply between 1934 and 1937.
Financial Struggles and Frugality
The economic downturn resulted in widespread unemployment, affecting nearly a quarter of the U.S. workforce. Even those fortunate enough to retain employment often faced wage cuts and reduced working hours. This financial instability forced families to adopt a frugal lifestyle, characterized by the motto “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” They planted gardens, canned food, and purchased used bread to save money. Many families went without milk or meat, despite a decline in food prices.
Self-Sufficiency and Community Support
Families embraced self-sufficiency as a means of survival. They cultivated kitchen gardens and participated in community “thrift gardens,” where they could grow their own food. Neighbors came together for card games and board games, such as Scrabble and Monopoly, as affordable forms of entertainment. Radio programs provided free entertainment, including comedy shows and sporting events. Miniature golf also gained popularity as a leisure activity.
Women in the Workforce
In an effort to maintain a middle-class income, some families added an extra wage earner. Married women entered the workforce in increasing numbers, taking on clerical or service industry positions. However, they often faced lower wages compared to their male counterparts.
Government Support and Changing Attitudes
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs provided financial aid and employment opportunities, alleviating some of the economic hardship faced by families. Attitudes toward government assistance began to change during the Great Depression, with less stigmatization associated with receiving support.
Psychological Impact and Family Breakdown
The stress of financial strain took a psychological toll on individuals, leading to a rise in the national suicide rate. Marriages became strained, and divorce rates dropped while abandonments increased. Many men and women became traveling hobos, leaving home in search of work. Crime rates initially spiked but began to fall sharply between 1934 and 1937.
Conclusion
The Great Depression had a devastating impact on families, forcing them to adapt to a new economic reality. They embraced frugality, self-sufficiency, and community support to cope with the challenges. Women entered the workforce in greater numbers, and government assistance played a crucial role in alleviating hardship. However, the Depression also took a psychological toll, leading to family breakdowns and an increase in social problems.
Sources
- Digital History: Children and the Great Depression
- History.com: Life for the Average Family During the Great Depression
- Great Depression Project: Everyday Life during the Depression
FAQs
How did the Great Depression affect family finances?
The Great Depression led to widespread unemployment, wage cuts, and reduced working hours, causing severe financial instability for families. Many families lost their homes and possessions due to inability to pay rent or mortgage.
How did families cope with the economic hardship?
Families adopted a frugal lifestyle, embracing the motto “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” They planted gardens, canned food, and purchased used bread to save money. Many families went without milk or meat, despite a decline in food prices.
What changes occurred in family roles during the Depression?
The economic crisis forced many women to enter the workforce to supplement family income. They took on clerical or service industry positions, often facing lower wages compared to their male counterparts.
How did the government assist families during the Depression?
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs provided financial aid and employment opportunities, alleviating some of the economic hardship faced by families. These programs included direct relief payments, job creation projects, and support for farmers.
How did the Depression impact family relationships?
The stress of financial strain took a psychological toll on families, leading to an increase in domestic violence, divorce, and abandonment. Many couples could not afford to maintain separate households or pay legal fees, resulting in a decline in the divorce rate.
What was the impact of the Depression on children?
Children suffered greatly during the Depression, facing poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Many children were forced to leave school and work to help support their families.
How did families find entertainment and leisure during the Depression?
Families had limited income for leisure activities. Going to the movies, a popular pastime before the Depression, became less affordable. Instead, families gathered for card games and board games, listened to radio programs, and participated in free or low-cost activities such as miniature golf.
How did the Depression affect crime rates?
Crime rates initially spiked during the early years of the Depression, as people resorted to desperate measures to survive. However, crime rates began to fall sharply between 1934 and 1937, possibly due to the effectiveness of New Deal programs and a renewed sense of hope.