Final answer:
The Great Depression led to long-lasting economic and social changes, which included a transformative shift in the role of U.S. government, changes in trade, and long-term psychological and social effects on the American population (option c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The most valid statement regarding the long-term effects of the Great Depression is that it led to long-lasting economic and social changes (option c). The Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash in 1929 and extended through the 1930s, was not merely a transient economic downturn. It had profound impacts on American society and the economy, reshaping the government's role in the economy, altering public attitudes toward welfare, and influencing social behaviors.
Many Americans faced psychological and social hardships as a result of financial strain. The New Deal programs initiated during this era represented a significant shift in federal policy aiming to provide relief, stimulate recovery, and reform the economic system to prevent future crises.
Despite initial hopes for a quick recovery, the economy continued to struggle, and it wasn't until World War II that full economic recovery was realized. This period of economic hardship had a lasting influence on trade, social welfare, government intervention, and the collective psyche of the American people, leading to a national shift toward a more interventionist government that became evident in the policies of subsequent political administrations.
Hence, the answer is option c.