Social Impact of the Depression Flashcards
Why was the human cost of the Depression so enormous?
The USA lacked an infrastructure to deal with mass employment, for example, there was no federal aid and charities couldn’t cope. People also believe unemployment was a choice and while the Depression showed this wasn’t the case, there were few ideas to replace it
What was the extent of relief?
Before 1932, no state had any recognised system of unemployment insurance and only 11 operated any form of pension scheme. There were private pension schemes but these only helped the well-off
What was the social impact on workers?
The alternative for many people facing unemployment was to sell all of their possessions and then rely on charities who were under tremendous pressures as the demands on them grew as their funds dried up
What happened to many unemployed?
They became hobos moving across the country in search of work - by 1932 it was estimated that there were over 1 million travelling workers without regular or fixed employment
What did a strain on families lead to?
A fall in marriages, from 1.23 million in 1929 to 982,000 by 1932, with a related fall in the birth rate.
What was the effect on mental health and the elderly?
Suicide rates increased from 14 per 10,000 in 1929 to 17.4 by 1932 and the majority of elderly people with few support mechanisms were living below the poverty line
