The great Depression was the worst economic crisis of the world, and affected mainly the United States, it lasted over 10 years, from 1929 to 1939 and American families from all types of race, religion and social classes were forced to face harsh circumstances and to adapt in order to survive.
The American society before the Great Depression, was experiencing the Roaring Twenties, which made it even harder to adjust, because the Roaring Twenties were a decade of economic growth, there was too many wealthy people, women earned their right to vote, and people were enjoying prosperity and had a lifestyle full of excess, so when the Great Depression began it was a shock for many.
Unemployment came from being 3.2% to reaching 25% in 1933. This forced more women to work, and men to feel powerless, also children adopted adult responsibilities faster to help their families, and marriage rates fell because it was too difficult to start a new family. Many American families were forced to transform, and the men were no longer the main provider for their families.
About 10% of the American families had invested in the Stock Market during the twenties, so when the Market crashed they lost their savings, and resulted in debt. Many families lost their houses because they were no longer able to pay their mortgage. Suicides rates were really high as well as depression rates, since many couldn't take the pressure.
Because many families lost their homes, poverty and homelessness rates incremented as well, and health issues from living in harsh conditions were frequent.
The Great Depression hit the American society, mostly the middle class society, and forced families to adapt and adjust their way of living, although many people suffered, it also created a society capable to adapt to conditions and to adjust their beliefs and customs, family values were more important than in the twenties. New Deal programs benefited the population and helped decrease the unemployment rates and restored the trust of people in the government.
One of the most important effects on the long term, is the involvement of the Federal government, and the creation of programs to provide aid to the population. Another long term effect is the role of women in the family, it is now no longer seen as strange if women go out to work.
