Final answer:
The absence of 16 million Americans during the Great Depression would have led to women taking vacant jobs, industries struggling to produce goods, minorities gaining more work opportunities, family disruptions, and public fear and discouragement regarding the economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The absence of 16 million people during the Great Depression would have had a considerable impact on America's economy and society. Given the historical context of the 1930s, several outcomes are likely. Women who hadn't been working before would have indeed taken the vacant jobs left by men, aligning with the historical reality of women joining the workforce during World War II (Option A).
Additionally, industries would struggle, likely producing fewer war supplies and other goods due to the massive decrease in the workforce (Option B). With a shortage of labor, minorities would likely have more opportunities for employment, although these might not always be better-paying jobs given the racial discrimination of the era (Option C).
There is less historical evidence for children having to go to work (Option D), as child labor laws were becoming more stringent. Families would indeed have been disrupted by the absence of a large portion of the population, impacting cohesiveness and economic stability (Option E). Finally, with such a significant number of people missing, the public would have been fearful and discouraged about the state of the U.S. economy, which was already precarious (Option F).