The Effect of the Great Depression on National and Individual Morale

The Effect of the Great Depression on National and Individual Morale

The Great Depression of the 1930’s was an era of hopelessness and fear

for many. Coming soon after the prosperous Coolidge era, the

Depression affected a nation of people who had based their self esteem

around their ability to work and provide well for their families

(Clements, page 67 - 69). Individuals and families had to contend not

only with an existence that pushed people close to suicide and

starvation, but a total loss of self worth and the haunting memories

of the cars, radios and relatively luxurious lives they would have led

five years previously.

As with many disasters, the effect on individuals was varied, although

with unemployment at 28% (not including eleven million struggling

farm workers (Clements, page 74)), it is doubtful that anyone totally

escaped the effects of the Depression. Amongst the worst affected

were men who became known as Hoboes- migrants who travelled the USA

frantically searching for work. According to a testimony by Louis

Banks (Cements, page 74), many men were so in need they regularly

risked their lives hitching on trains to try and find employment- if

they didn’t fall, there was always the chance of being shot by the

train police. This sense of mortal desperation is apparent in much

of the evidence- “A man over forty might as well go out and shoot

himself” (McElvaine, page 172), “If no-one will help than (sic) I will

take my life away (McElvaine, page 174).

Even those who retained their will to live found that life became a

demoralising battle- “I just vegetated” is the description given by

Ward James in the stud...

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...ffects

such as a lack in long term confidence and some level of a mistrust

in banks. However, for the worst affected, the most difficult effect

on morale must have been the lifelong memory of seeing their children

and family suffer, and having no power to change this. For the lack

of power to change the future is the exact opposite of the ‘American

Dream’.

References:

Prosperity, Depression and The New Deal, Peter Clements, 2001, Hodder

and Stoughton, London

Letters To The Roosevelts, various authors, date and publisher unknown

An Editor Loses His Job In The Great Depression, Hard Times: An Oral

History of the Great Depression, Studs Terkel, 1978, Pantheon Books.

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?, Jay Gorney, 1932, Warner Bros. Music

The Great Depression, Mc Elvaine R., 1984, Times Books, New York