The Great Depression Essay: Causes and Influence

All the sources that contain information about the Great Depression claim that it was the most dynamic, deepest, and longest depression. In most countries it began in 1929 and lasted until 1939. It was the most uncompromising Depression. Economic slump in North America ruined multiple lives, destroyed families and individuals.

Any essay of the Great Depression would be full of tragic facts. This one will reveal some historic true. Maybe you need some help to write a paper on this topic, or, for example, your teacher asked you to write a narrative essay about life, contact us so we will assist you.

The causes of the Great Depression

If we want to understand how deeply this historical event affected the US and other countries involved, we need to look into its origins. Here are some brief facts regarding the causation of such huge economic and social tragedy.

The "Black Thursday:" massive Wall Street Crash.

The Great Depression started in 1929 and continued to 1939. On October 24, 1929, the stock exchange market lost 11 per cent of its value after the sales' opening. One of the most well-known reasons was that the investors did not even know that the information on the price of the stocks they were purchasing or selling was late due to two-hour ticker delay. Those events caused a massive panic at the stock exchange, exacerbating the issue further. But after many studies which were conducted at modern times, a lot of expert scientists disproved the fact that the crash was the cause for a Great Depression. But the crash mentioned above is undoubtedly marking its beginning.

The enormous overproduction of goods.

A lot of industrial and rural businesses created so much merchandise that the number of goods produced was higher than the demand for them at the market. Factories and farms were closing rapidly, creating a colossal amount of workers that were simply laid off. Many business owners went bankrupt during that time, creating a terrifyingly significant labour shortage.

The difference between cities and rural areas.

The "roaring twenties" caused a substantial stream of people migrating to cities, with the intention to improve their living standards. Supported by growing industrial production, the urban areas were thriving, while the rural areas were deeply concerned about their financial situation. The massive overproduction of agricultural goods caused a considerable price drop, leaving a lot of American farmers unable to pay for their land, workforce and farming equipment. Many of them sold their property, promptly increasing the number of tenant farmers.

Tremendous amount of uncontrolled speculations.

The market was progressively developing, and the stock exchange was on the rise at the time, but the circulation of capital was almost entirely uncontrolled. Additionally, many American citizens were investing in stocks, frequently with the loaned money, in order to obtain more wealth than they had. For example, there was more money on loan then the entire amount of US currency. Moreover, the market was overflowing with many fraudulent schemes and excessive speculation. Such tendencies created a substantial economic bubble, which resulted in the 1929 crash.

The Great Depression was widespread and brutal to the common populace. Many people lost their jobs and property, while a lot of businesses went bankrupt or suffered heavy losses because their owners invested in speculation schemes but not in the production of their companies. The politicians were fighting among themselves in order to defuse the crisis, but their reforms were far from satisfactory until Roosevelt's New Deal was presented in 1933. He and his administration completely reformed social and economic life in the US, eventually stabilizing the whole situation.

The impact of the Great Depression

The impact of the Great Depression on society was huge. It affected people from coast to coast, the young and the old, both rich and poor countries. For the greater number of people economic crisis became permanent reality. The Great Depression started with the Stock Market Crash in 1929. History called it Black Thursday because it happened on October 24 which was Thursday. The birth of the crash gave the start to ten-year Depression.

Although many people say that the Great Depression started with the Wall Street Crash, some insist that the Depression happened not because of that bang. The economic conditions of the United States were less than satisfactory. The agricultural sector suffered greatly. Several facts explain it plainly: American farms had to expand because of the World War I to provide food for all soldiers; the second reason is that farmers mechanized their operations since the growth of work’s volume. Tractors were expensive, so farmers were into debt to finance their expansions.

One more point of view says that the Great Depression was caused by overproduction. Unsold goods piled up because people did not consume all that was produced. All these are different views, and you pick the one you like most. The facts and factors which are written above explain clearly why the Great Depression took place in the history. It happened. Nobody can change it.

Some experts call the period before the Depression (1920s) the period of prosperity. That was the age of jazz and the days of first Miss America elections, and first Oskar ceremony. People got electric washing machines, electric refrigerators, and record players. In 1937 people started watch sound movies. Even though everything looked like a new age, people faced Depression.

Money takes an important place in one’s life. People used it not carefully during the time before the Depression. Essay about money analyzes this issue clearly. This is a good question to ponder.

Once John D.Rockfeller said that depression makes people discouraged, but it is the matter that once appears and then goes away; prosperity always comes back.  Despite his words, the Wall Street was swept by panic. Each bank closed its doors. Factories began to slow down productions. An abundance number of workers were fired. Those people who were employed got small wages. Crowds of people were gathering at the Wall Street and outside the banks that failed.

The unemployment rate was super high. People stood in soup lines outside soup-kitchens. Many fired workers were wandering about the country to find any job. Some people moved from the cities to countryside. Thus, they were able to feed their families. Both the working and middle class suffered from unemployment. People were looking for new places to work. Poverty snaked into homes. This topic is rather touching. More about this theme read in poverty essay.

Many farmers lost their farms. A lot of them were evicted. Some farmers rented their land or owned land, but could not keep up the payments. It was hard time. Imagine the situation when you have no place to go. Farmers destroyed their crops. They could not afford to take it to the market for the price they got there. People stayed without food and cloth.

Some kind of agitation took place in the country. One could see shocking scenes.  Strikes and demonstrations were going on. There were picket lines. When people went on strike the police opened fire on them. Communist party was leading a struggle on workers behalf. This matter during that time made people believe that it was the only organization that was doing something about Depression.

A sort of relief brought Franklin D. Roosevelt. He became the president and a central figure of the Great Depression events. Roosevelt himself was rich, and he knew not much about lives of the poor. His wife Eleanor went to poor districts and knew how people lived. She saw the conditions of the poor. For these reasons, the understanding how people suffer came to Roosevelt through his wife. Some say that Eleanor was his eyes and ears. People were waiting for Roosevelt to do something during that severe time. This aspect is vital. Any essay about The Great Depression should mention it.

In 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt for the first time pronounced words New Deal. Roosevelt promised to curb the dynamic effects of 1929’s crash. His New Deal was in response to the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt focused on the relief for poor and unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system. Even though many politicians were critical for Roosevelt’s New Deal, it made a significant shift in American politics and domestic policy. The New Deal caused the beginning of numerous social programs.

The Great Depression started in the USA but affected many countries. Australia was dependent on agricultural export as well as on industrial. Falling export caused unemployment which reached 29% in 1932. The wages were pressed by increased product prices. Despite all the hardships, gradual recovery started after 1932.

Canada was harshly affected by Depression. The industrial production fall to 58%, and unemployment reached 27% in 1933.

The Depression hit France only in 1931. Its impact was not severe. The unemployment rated no more than 5%. There was no banking crisis in France. The fall in commodity was at 20%.

The Great Depression almost did not influence China but greatly affected Greece in 1932. All attempts of the Bank of Greece to overcome the Depression failed. However, the Greek government managed to strengthen economy of the country up to the Second World War.

The economy of Latin America was highly invested by the USA. The Depression crashed it harshly. Latin America was a big product exporter to the world. It developed its economy by British and USA investments. Thus, its export industry suffered immediately and greatly. The New Deal’s example in the USA served the basis for making steps toward improved life in Latin America.

Those people who remember the time of Depression say that it was a hard time for everybody, and everyone had to compete with others.