The Great Depression for Kids

The Great Depression: A Tough Time in America

A long time ago, in the 1930s, the United States went through a very hard time called The Great Depression. It wasn’t just a small problem—it affected almost everyone. People lost their jobs, their homes, and didn’t have enough money to buy food or clothes. Let’s learn more about what happened and how people stayed strong during this difficult time.

💰 What Was the Great Depression?

The Great Depression was a time when the economy (that means the way money and jobs work) was really struggling. It started in 1929 and lasted for about 10 years. Businesses closed, banks failed, and millions of people were out of work. Many families didn’t have enough money to pay for everyday things like food, rent, or clothes.

📉 What Caused It?

There were several reasons the Great Depression happened, but here are a few big ones:

• The Stock Market Crash of 1929: Many people had invested money in the stock market. When prices suddenly dropped, people lost a lot of money very quickly.
• Bank Failures: Many banks ran out of money and closed. People who had savings in the bank lost it all.
• Unemployment: With so many businesses closing, there were fewer jobs, and lots of people couldn’t find work.

🍞 Life During the Depression

Life was very hard for many families during this time. Some people had to wait in breadlines to get free food. Others moved across the country looking for work. Children sometimes had to leave school to help their families. People found creative ways to get by—like growing their own food or making their own clothes.

🌾 The Dust Bowl

During the same time, a terrible drought (when there’s no rain) hit the middle of the country. Big dust storms swept through farms in states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. This disaster was called the Dust Bowl, and it made farming almost impossible. Many farm families packed up and moved west to places like California, hoping for a better life.

🏛️ How Did Things Get Better?

When Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933, he created something called the New Deal. It was a set of programs that gave people jobs, built schools and roads, and helped families get back on their feet. Slowly, life started to improve. Eventually, World War II helped create even more jobs, and the country began to recover.

💡 What Can We Learn?

The Great Depression was a time of great struggle, but also great strength. People helped each other, worked hard, and didn’t give up. It reminds us how important it is to be kind, work together, and never lose hope.

Fun Fact:
During the Great Depression, movie theaters stayed popular. People loved watching movies like The Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to escape their worries!

The Great Depression was one of the toughest times in American history, but it also showed how strong and brave people can be—even when life gets really hard. 💪🌟

🎨 Fun Activity!

Check out our Great Depression Budgeting game where you have $144 to make tough financial decisions as if you were living during the Great Depression.