The Great Depression in the United States of America, commenced very suddenly with the crash to the stock market in 1929. This sent the country into a severe economic crisis which lasted from 1929 until 1939, the effects of which saw people suddenly losing their jobs, income, homes and overall livelihoods. Up to one quarter of the population became unemployed and for others, wages were cut up to 60% or hours were significantly reduced. This crisis affected the middle-class as well as the working-class as it affected urban and rural areas alike, even the upper-middle class employment suffered, with professions in medicine or law (amongst others) dropping incomes by up to 40%. Nationwide there was of course an overwhelming lack of money for food and droughts in certain areas affected farming – thus there was on overall lack of food. Lets take a more magnified look at the lives of families during the great depression era.