The Great Depression was a time period in American history that truly tested the perseverance of society against poverty. The effects of the Great Depression were not solely economical but also social. After all, financial stability and social stability are interlinked. This economic calamity hit everyone, from male to female, old and young, black and white.

 

The first social effect of the depression was the surge in crime rate and this was because many workers had to find a source income when they were not employed. Historical trends show that as people become financially burdened they might resort to activities outside the legal boundaries in order to support themselves. This was no different situation. The collapse of American firms left millions of workers unemployed with no income to live of. Welfare and social support systems were weak and the government was barely able to support its people. As a result petty crimes such as theft and mugging rose as that was the last resort to put food on the table. There was also a surge in prostitution as another method to support families or themselves. Alcoholism increased during this time period as many sought a way to run from their pains and in 1933 when the prohibition was repealed it only increased.

 

There was overall less education and fewer people were pursuing higher education during this time period. This calamity left many poor and as a result parents needed children working with them in order to survive. As a result there was little room left of education. In colleges and universities, student bodies shrank as the cost of attending would be too unbearable and they had to help their families. There was also less funding of these institutions plus in high schools. As a result schools had less teachers and facilities to help students learn. Many schools and universities eventually shut down. Interestingly enough, high school attendance among males did increase. This is because as unemployment rose many saw no point in searching for a job as the chance of getting one was very low, so they simply attended their high school.

 

There were profound changes in the demographics and marriages as the economic conditions forced many to readapt. Marriages were happening at a more later age as males no longer had income or any stable source of income to safely support a family. Divorce rates in the 1930s saw a decline as divorces were both costly and pointless. It would only divide the little money couples had saved, would make it harder to support children, and women would hardly be able to find another man for support. However one issue sprang into existence and that was the “poor man divorce.” It was when the man would simply run away from the family and leave the wife. Birth rates also fell during the period. Americans saw that they would not be able to support the additional expense of a child in their financial state and chose to have lesser kids and later on in life. Many Americans became more educated in birth control instead.

 

There were psychological effects of the depression as well, particularly on males. The American family structure was set up so that the source of income was the father of the house. The father was also the leading authority in the family. As the depression hit, many fathers could no longer get income to feed their families. Many would come home empty handed and have to look at their hungry families with nothing to give. Then their wives had to start working and that made them feel even more worse as it felt as if they had failed at their job. It also felt as if they no longer were the leading authority in the family. The worst hit came when they would have to go and seek welfare from the government. These hard working people who relied on no one but their own work now had no other option but to seek free help, to rely on someone else. The effects of this situation was debilitating as it made them feel as if they had failed. It made them feel as if they no longer were the men they thought they were. Many of these fathers, along with others who were hard hit committed suicide over the depression. The pressure was to strong and the struggle to painful.

 

The great depression was a brutal period in our history that subjected many Americans to deep financial pain. The financial damages also created their own social implications described above. These social consequences prove that in a society, a good social system relies on a stable economy.