Analysis of the Working Class during The Great Depression

Exam #2

October 29, 1929, a date that will never be forgotten in the United States for it was the day that the “Great Depression” began, also known as “Black Tuesday—when the American stock market–that had previously been moving swiftly upward for about ten years suddenly crashed, causing the U.S to plummet into the most severe economic downturn known to this date. In 1931, the rate of unemployment was at its lowest as almost a third of the population was jobless. Until Franklin Roosevelt also known as FDR campaigned for office in 1933 and became the thirty second President. FDR quickly began to alleviate the horrendous economy. His plan was to provide stable jobs and assist the many suffering people in the economy. For more than eight years, FDR introduced a series of trial schemes, known as the New Deal. The purpose of the New Deal was to repair all of the lost dignity and affluence for the majority Americans.

Throughout the long years of the depression there became two types of employees. One was the “Industrial Worker” and the other was the “Tenant Farmer”. Within these two groups there were white men and women and there were black men and women. During this time there was a lot of racial and gender segregation within the work place. As hard as it was for a white man to get a job in either of these fields it was four times as hard for a white women or black women/man to get a job, but life began to grow even harder as the “New Deal” began. To help give you a better idea of life during the “Great Depression” I am going to begin with explaining to you the differences between industrial workers and tenant farmers. I will then go into more depth as I analyze the segregation that occurred within these two jobs and how the “New...

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...es were still negatively impacted and life was far from simple for over a third of America’s population. Whether one was a white male or female or a black male or female nobody was treated with respect or equality. Throughout the process of the New Deal the word freedom changed many times and as FDR liked to tell the people that he was making lives better and working the improve freedom for all, most of the people actually become less free and more controlled by employers and the government.

Works Cited:

Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty. Third Edition. 2. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012. 644-672. Print.

Roosevelt, Franklin. "Fireside Chat." Trans. Array. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012. 660-661. Print.

Romero, M. "The Great New Deal." Classroom Lecture. Orange Coast College. California, Costa Mesa. 2014. Lecture.