9781422274132

Workers saw their wages fall, and farmers could not afford to maintain their property. In the Midwest, overcultivation and drought contributed to the Dust Bowl. At the peak of the Great Depression in 1933, nearly 25 percent of the US population was unemployed. During the Great Depression, Hoovervilles became a staple of life for many Americans. A Hooverville was the

A “Hooverville” at West and Charleton Streets in New York City, 1932. These shantytowns provided living space for those who could no longer afford homes.

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Contemporary Issues: Poverty and Welfare