Down And Out In The Great Depression Essay -- Robert McElvaine

During the 1920s, America was a loose nation going through the Big Boom and loving both second of it. However, this fortune didnt last long, because with the 1930s came a percentage point of serious economic recession, a period called the Great falling off. By 1933, a quarter of the nations workers (about 40 million) were without jobs. The hebdomadly income rate dropped from $24.76 per week in 1929 to $16.65 per week in 1933 (McElvaine, 8). After President vacuum-clean failed to sort out the recession situation, Franklin D. Roosevelt began his term with the hopeful New Deal. In two installments, Roosevelt hoped to absorb short term suffering with the first, and redistribution of property amongst the short with the second. Throughout these old age of the depression, many Americans spoke their minds through pen and paper. Many criticized Hoovers policies of the early Depression and praised the Roosevelts efforts. Each opinion about the causes and solutions of the Great Depress ion are based upon economic, racial and social standing in America. At the start of the Depression, many letters (mostly discouraging) were sent to President Hoover. These letters came in the main from well-to-do citizens, however some leftist workers letters found their expressive style in as well. The well-to-do citizens agreed that the ultimate cause of the start out classes depression was their laziness and incompetence. On top of that, these well-to-do citizens thanked Hoover, probably because their money had gone unscathed (McElvaine, 38). Some opinions werent as favorable for the Hoover administration, however. Some people believed that engineers may be intelligent but worthless hot seats (pp. 43). Finally, the leftist parties did not appreciate the endeavors of the Hoover presiden... ...for their misfortune. The rich blamed the poor, the poor blamed the rich, the middle class blamed the blacks, and no one took state themselves. One complaint most of these classes (wit h exception to the few that benefited) was the lack of achiever of the New Deal and other relief efforts. Whether the blacks had too much employment, or the poor were too lazy to receive aid, very few Americans appeared to be happy with Roosevelts solution. This didnt stop his popularity. Many Americans stood behind their president rain or shine, depression or big boom. Regardless of their positions, these citizens who dark to the President in their time of desperation proved that the pen is sincerely mightier.Works CitedMcElvaine, Robert S, ed. Down and Out in the Great Depression garner from the Forgotten Man. Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina Press, 1983.