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The Hardships Of Life During The Great Depression

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The hardships of the Great Depression had tremendous social impact. Some people were so hurt that they lost the will to survive and simply committed suicide. Between 1928 and 1932, the suicide rate rose more than 30 percent. Three times as many people were admitted to state mental hospitals.
The social problems forced many Americans to accept compromises and make sacrifices that affected them for the rest of their lives. People stopped going to places like the dentist or doctor because they couldn’t afford it. Teenagers gave up their dreams of going to college to help out on the family farm. Other people put off getting married, raising large families, or not having children at all.
One of the positives that happened during the Great Depression was that many people showed kindness to strangers who were struggling, even though they were struggling themselves. People often gave food, clothing, and a place for the homeless to stay. Families help other families and shared resources and strengthened the bonds within the community. …show more content…

Poor diets and a lack of money for health care, led to serious health problems. School boards were forced shorten the school year and even close the schools. By 1933, nearly 2,600 schools across the nation had shut down, leaving about 300,000 kids out of school. Hundreds of thousands of teenage boys hopped aboard freight trains to travel the country looking for work, adventure and an escape from poverty. While it could be exciting, it was also deadly. Many riders were beaten or jailed by patrolmen. Often riders had to sleep standing up. From 1929 to 1939, 24,647 trespassers were killed and 27,171 were injured on trains. Every day the poor dug through garbage cans or begged for food. Soup Kitchens offering free or low cost food and bread lines provided food for

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