Question

How did unemployed workers and farmers respond to the deepening depression? What was the effect of their responses?

a) Unemployed workers and farmers formed labor unions and went on strike, leading to better working conditions and higher wages.
b) Unemployed workers and farmers organized protests and marches, leading to improved government policies to address the crisis.
c) Unemployed workers and farmers faced dire conditions and faced eviction from their homes, causing widespread suffering.
d) Unemployed workers and farmers resorted to violence and crime, resulting in a breakdown of law and order.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option b) Unemployed workers and farmers organized protests and marches, leading to improved government policies to address the crisis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Unemployed workers and farmers responded to the deepening depression in various ways. Organizing protests and marches, they sought improved government policies to address the crisis. This was a period characterized by dire conditions, with many facing eviction from homes, contributing to widespread suffering.

In urban areas, substantial job losses led to breadlines and charitable aid, which could not keep pace with the demand. Meanwhile, in rural settings, farmers contended with crop prices so low they often lost their farms to foreclosure or could not afford to pay off machinery and land mortgages. The Great Depression's grip tightened as even well-established companies like Ford Motor Company laid off thousands of workers, spurring bitter strikes and an upsurge in labor activism. In contrast, some farmers attempted to stay on their land by buying up more acreage, while others fled to places like California, only to encounter maltreatment and continued hardship.

Despite desperate actions and responses—including the formation of alliances and new political parties—these efforts largely did not prevent the harsh realities of unemployment and poverty. Still, the era did see some changes as government policies evolved, influenced by the concerted activism of these workers and farmers.