Final answer:
During the Great Depression, people coped with economic hardships by sharing resources, exhausting financial safety nets, seeking charitable aid like breadlines and soup kitchens, and moving in search of work or aid, while cultural shifts toward community support emerged.
Step-by-step explanation:
Different ways that people tried to cope with economic hardships during the Great Depression included developing a strong sense of community and supporting one another through sharing resources such as food, clothing, and shelter. With little public assistance, many resorted to sending children out to beg, shared clothing, and scrounged for fuel to keep warm. They also found temporary escapes in movies and books. Families and individuals often exhausted their savings and insurance policies, borrowed from friends and family, and when all options were depleted, faced eviction or moved in with relatives. This created a cycle of spiraling poverty that affected many Americans for years. People also relied on breadlines, soup kitchens, and sometimes traveled in search of jobs or better living conditions. Farmers experienced crop price collapses and droughts, leading to lost farms and exacerbating the rural economic crisis. Despite this severe economic downturn, the hardships ignited a shift away from rugged individualism towards a more community-based lifestyle and left an indelible mark on American culture and values.