The economic impact of the Great Depression was enormous, including both extreme human suffering and profound changes in economic policy.” Rom) In the Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” Harper Lee tells us about a story during The Great Depression where devastating unemployment, created harsh realities, and dramatic decreases in money were …show more content…
In the summer of 1929, stock markets hit a wall. Profits of the workers dropped and there were lots of items that were left unsold. Prices of the items were raised, and by fall the prices of items began to raise beyond what people could afford. By October 24, 1929, the stock market bubble finally burst. A record of 12.9 million shares were traded that day, which is also known as “Black Thursday.” Five days later, on “Black Tuesday” there were about 16 million shares traded after another mass of panic hit the people of America. Millions of shares ended up becoming worthless. “The American economy entered an ordinary recession during the summer of 1929, as consumer spending dropped and unsold goods began to pile up, slowing production. At the same time, stock prices continued to rise, and by the fall of that year had reached levels that could not be justified by anticipated future earnings.” (His) Unemployment was beginning to hit everybody. Unemployment is always hard, but in The Great Depression it was even more tough. If you didn’t have a job there was no money being made to support the family, so many people died of starvation with the lack of money for food. The Great Depression lasted ten years. Ten long years of the employment rates dropping more and more every year. The War was a good and a bad thing, mostly bad but it created jobs for those in need. Everyone always said “Last hired, first fired.”