Final answer:
Ordinary workers faced rampant unemployment, homelessness, and poverty during the Great Depression. Job losses hit both urban and rural areas, leading to widespread economic and social strife, including the creation of Hoovervilles and desperate migrations in search of work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of the Great Depression on Ordinary Workers
During the Great Depression, ordinary workers experienced severe hardships. As businesses downsized or shut down, workers were laid off in massive numbers. The unemployment rate soared, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that 25% or one-quarter of the American workforce was jobless by 1933.
This lack of income led to many families being evicted from their homes, creating a rise in homelessness. As a response, shantytowns, often referred to as "Hoovervilles," emerged on the outskirts of cities.
Farmers also faced extreme difficulties, especially in the Great Plains where drought conditions prevailed, making the land barren—this region became known as the Dust Bowl. Many farmers were forced to migrate to places like California, but they met with hostility and continued job competition. In urban areas, the loss of jobs led to increased reliance on breadlines and charity, with companies cutting wages and benefits—leading to bitter worker strikes.
The Great Depression significantly altered lives, with companies such as Ford Motor Company laying off two-thirds of its workforce. Many Americans were suddenly plunged into poverty, with children dropping out of school and families scrambling to find any means of subsistence.
The economic downturn not only affected industry but also consumer behavior, as the demand for goods plummeted, causing further job losses and a sharp decline in the country's gross national product.