Mozart

2 Pages 513 Words

How did the great Depression of the 1930’s change the values and outlook of Americans?
Although the Great Depression of the 1930’s brought forth many economic hardships, Americans faced these obstacles as an opportunity to improve their social conditions. People worked harder than ever and faced adversity with confidence. According to many, “American social values changed relatively little in response to the depression.”
Many working people realized that they were out of employment. As a result of their discontent, most of them placed the blame on the economic system. On the other hand, many were willing to blame themselves. They thought of themselves as “personal failures,” yet they were willing to go out and restore themselves economically. There were many men who ran away from home as a result of not being able to provide for their families. Many simply committed suicide. They could not bare the humiliation of not being a proper husband/ provider.
Amidst the economic downturn, many families sought time to spend together. Through board games, listening to the radio, or by going to the movies, families created stronger bonds. Divorce rates went down as well; mostly due to its high prices. This shows the willingness of people to look at the brighter side of their marriages, and set their differences aside. Anything that could be done to save money was well worth it. The depression encouraged family members to turn “toward each other with greater, more intelligent interdependence. They depended on each other for emotional and physical support.



Furthermore, families continued to act upon their beliefs. For example, the Lefever family of York, Pennsylvania, believed that, “They were put on this earth to help others.” By no means was the Lefever family wealthy, on the contrary, Mr. Lefever worked half-time for twenty dollars a week. In spite of the fact that they lived sparsely, the family always rem...