https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture - James en-us 2018-02-13 18:54:45 UTC 2018-02-14 02:31:56 UTC hello@padlet.com hcho2019 https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237272 The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939, and was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world. It began after the stock market crash of October 1929, which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and employment as failing companies laid off workers. By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its lowest point, some 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half the country’s banks had failed.]]> 2018-02-13 19:10:07 UTC https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237272 hcho2019 https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237366 With millions of people out of work and millions others having lost their life savings, one might have predicted (as many at the time did) that there would have been a strong resurgence of the church during the period of the Great Depression. Indeed, after decades of declining church membership and what many perceived to be a general decline in religious piety throughout the country, many clergyman saw the Depression as partly a heavenly response to these developments. Moreover, many believed that the suffering masses would quickly rush back into the church, swelling membership rolls, and seeking forgiveness for their folly. Yet while most major denominations did see an average membership gain of about 5% during the thirties this gain fell far short of the clergy's collective hopes. Moreover, contemporary evidence indicates that religious piety among these church members may actually have been on the decline even during this period of crisis. At the same time that popular religion was experiencing a decline, the spread of radio allowed such people as Father Charles Coughlin to achieve nationwide fame.]]> 2018-02-13 19:10:15 UTC https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237366 hcho2019 https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237538 The Great Depression was a traumatic experience for millions of Americans, and it shook the confidence of many people in themselves or in their nation or both. Out of the crisis emerged some of the most probing criticisms of American society and the American economic system of the industrial age. At the same time, the Depression produced powerful confirmations of traditional goals. There was not one Depression culture, but many. 
The Great Depression brought a rapid rise in the crime rate as many unemployed workers resorted to petty theft to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose, as did reported cases of malnutrition. Prostitution was on the rise as desperate women sought ways to pay the bills. Health care in general was not a priority for many Americans, as visiting the doctor was reserved for only the direst of circumstances. Alcoholism increased with Americans seeking outlets for escape, compounded by the repeal of prohibition in 1933. Cigar smoking became too expensive, so many Americans switched to cheaper cigarettes.

]]> 2018-02-13 19:10:31 UTC https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231237538 hcho2019 https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231353243 2018-02-14 02:31:19 UTC https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231353243 hcho2019 https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231353317 2018-02-14 02:31:56 UTC https://padlet.com/hcho2019/1xj5jpug8aaf/wish/231353317