by Joaquin Bowman (Contribution by), T. J. Hickey (Author)
The Great Depression, characterized by bread lines, general unemployment, bank and business failures, hit swiftly and unexpectantly. It challenged the inner and outer resources of the millions of bewildered people, coping with their responsibilities. And the Depression persisted, starting with the stock market crash in October, 1929, through various phases until the U.S. entered into World War II in December, 1941 and unemployment dropped below ten per cent. Prior to the financial collapse in 2008 most Americans had no idea what it was like to do without. Since WW II the economy has been, for the most part, on the upswing. As mortgages collapsed, however, and unemployment soared, Americans got a taste, just a taste, of the fear and hopelessness that gripped the nation during the Great Depression.