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Times Were Tough During the 1930's Great Depression

Updated on Mar 05, 2021. Originally added on Jul 18, 2016 by Kathy Pinna

Looking back at these photos of the 1930s Depression era, life seemed so hard.

Around 15 million in the U.S. alone were unemployed, and half of the banks had failed. Life was especially hard for those who were older and who lived in rural America where the Depression and the Dust Bowl dealt a double whammy.

See what life was like for the common man and woman during the 1930's Great Depression.

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Photos of the 1930's Great Depression

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Helping Americans forget their troubles

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Roosevelt considered Shirley Temple one of the weapons in fighting the Depression.

Depression refugees from Iowa, 1936

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Nine children, father ill, no work - selling their possessions for money to buy food.

Skid row, San Francisco

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Winter, 1937 - men literally sleeping on the street - in suits.

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1939 Illinois shanty

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This home was built from refuse.

Food line, 1935

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Men in the front of the sign could get a 5 cent meal - the rest would have to beg on the street.

1933, FDR's inauguration

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FDR with outgoing President Hoover - the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression were during Hoover's term. He was therefore a one term President.

1901 political cartoon about a balanced economy

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Eternal truth? When government balances the needs of workers and the captains of industry, there is prosperity.

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1936 Iowa

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Is that a washing machine??

1938 CA unemployment line

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On one of the first days to sign up for unemployment, the lines were long. Only 22 states offered unemployment insurance. It was a new concept.

1936 "Street Meeting" in San Francisco

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During the Great Depression, they were protesting in suits and hats.

1930's Iowa

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Not many more possessions than a great smile!

New Orleans, 1939

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"I am taking the photogka [sic] of depression anp [sic] starvation at once".

1939 - the rest of his story

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This man was still trying to get compensation from his local government for damage to his farm by a broken levee 12 years later! :(

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Congress & White House

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Coming together to help the people. They were trying to create The New Deal to help the American people in very tough times.

1938, Indiana

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This (projected) hotel had been sitting unfinished since 1929 - 9 years before!

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