The Depression had a powerful impact on family life. It forced couples to delay marriage and drove the birthrate below the replacement level for the first time in American history. The divorce rate fell, for the simple reason that many couples could not afford to maintain separate households or pay legal fees.
During the GreatDepression, many children were left orphaned as their parentssuccumbed to illness, died of injuries sustained at the workplace, or starved. This led to what later became known as the plight of the Orphan Train children.

How did the Great Depression change people’s lives?

More important was the impact that it had on people’s lives: the Depression brought hardship, homelessness, and hunger to millions. THE DEPRESSION IN THE CITIES In cities across the country, people lost their jobs, were evicted from their homes and ended up in the streets.

What was family like in the Great Depression?

During the Great Depression, family lives changed drastically. Women worked while men stayed home, and families moved often, trying to find more work. People counted on soup kitchens and bread lines for food, but on a positive note, families did spend more time together.

What happened to many children during the Great Depression?

With the Great Depression, many families lost their farms and migrated to urban areas in search of work and aid from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal government programs. With record unemployment, children competed for jobs with their elders in an effort to make a contribution to their families.

How did many Americans feed their families during the Great Depression?

Some people chose to hunt for their food. Some people harvested their own bees to make honey. Other people went to soup kitchens, which are places where people can go and get a free meal. Since many people needed a free meal during the Depression, they often had to wait for hours in long ‘soup lines’ to be served.

How were families of the unemployed affected by the Great Depression quizlet?

The Great Depression affected the daily lives of average Americans by causing them to be unemployed. People who had homes or apartments became homeless because they had no money to pay rent. Families fell apart when the husbands would leave to go search for jobs. Many suffered depression and committed suicide.

What did kids play in the 1930s?

Checkers, chess and ring-toss were also often played. More open-ended games such as hide-and-seek, tag and Simon Says were also popular, in part, because they were free and could be played anywhere by anyone. Children also spent time outdoors in neighborhood settings and engaged in imaginative, open play.

How did the Great Depression affect Canadian families?

Millions of Canadians were left unemployed, hungry and often homeless. The decade became known as the Dirty Thirties due to a crippling droughtin the Prairies, as well as Canada’s dependence on raw material and farm exports. Widespread losses of jobs and savings transformed the country.

What did people eat during the Great Depression?

Chili, macaroni and cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits were popular meals. In the 70 or more years since the Great Depression, a lot has changed on the farms of rural America.

What did families do for entertainment during the Depression?

People found unique and inexpensive ways to entertain themselves during the Great Depression. They listened to a variety of radio shows or took in a cheap movie. They also took part in sports, fads, or fun contests that didn’t cost anything at all.

Did food prices go up during the Great Depression?

Food prices in the great depression. During the Great Depression, food prices plummeted. The combination of falling demand and glut in supply caused prices to fall. Often food was destroyed – even though many were going hungry.

Which foods were most scarce during the Great Depression?

Poor man’s cake without eggs or dairy Rationing of items such as dairy and eggs during the Great Depression and through WWII made bakers get creative. According to Living History Farm, the main foods rationed during the Great Depression were sugar, coffee, meat, fish, butter, eggs, and cheese.