On October 29, 1929, the New York stock market collapsed. Within a couple of days, thousands of people had lost their life savings and were destitute. The “Black Friday” affected almost the whole world. What followed was later referred to as theThe Great Depression, The Depression Years or even The Ten Lost Years.The period ended with the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. It was a decade of despair, anger and broken dreams. This essay will give a glimpse into what happened during those years, especially on the Prairie Provinces Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. I will try to explain why those years were so hard particularly for the people living on the Western Provinces. I will not only present facts about what happened and how it could happen but also how people tried to deal with it and made the best out of their situation. Thus, this essay is also based on recordings of men, women and children who had to face the Depression Years. Apart from the introduction, this essay is divided into two parts: Section A explains how the Great Depression could emerge, and describes it in terms of politics and economics. Section B focuses on how people were affected by the Depression. What exactly did the families and individuals suffer from? How did they try to manage their situation? How did the Great Depression make an impact on the people’s self-esteem in terms of hope, despair, anger and self-abandonment? These questions will be discussed in the second part of this essay.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- A. REASONS FOR THE GREAT DEPRESSION ON THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES
- 1. The economic situation
- 2. The inhuman weather conditions
- B. HOW DID THE PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION?
- 1. Overwhelming Anger
- 2. The search for alternative solutions
- 3. The attempt to cope with the situation
- 4. The humiliating living on relief
- 5. Total Despair
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to provide an account of the Great Depression on the Canadian Prairies, focusing on the causes and effects of this period. The essay will explore the economic and environmental factors that contributed to the Depression, and it will examine how the people of the Prairie Provinces coped with its devastating consequences.
- Economic factors of the Great Depression on the Canadian Prairies
- The impact of weather conditions on the agricultural economy
- The social and psychological effects of the Depression
- Strategies for coping with the economic hardship
- The role of government and community assistance in mitigating the effects of the Depression
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by outlining the historical context of the Great Depression, emphasizing the impact of the New York stock market crash in 1929. The first section then delves into the economic factors that contributed to the Depression, including the decline in wheat prices and the effects of overproduction. It also discusses the impact of the severe weather conditions, particularly the prolonged drought and harsh winters, which further exacerbated the economic difficulties experienced by Prairie farmers.
The second section of the essay examines how people on the Prairies dealt with the effects of the Great Depression. It discusses the emotional toll of the Depression, including anger, despair, and a sense of hopelessness. This section explores the strategies employed by individuals and families to cope with the economic hardship, ranging from seeking alternative solutions to relying on relief programs. The essay also explores the social implications of the Depression, such as the impact on self-esteem and the erosion of hope.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on the Great Depression on the Canadian Prairies, particularly the experiences of the Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Key themes include the economic situation, weather conditions, wheat prices, unemployment, poverty, and the psychological and social impact of the Depression.
- Quote paper
- Marco Müller (Author), 2002, The Depression Years on the Canadian Prairies - Causes and Effects, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58234
