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The stock market crash is considered the starting point of the great depression in America. Its effects lasted long into the future.
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Mostly from the South, Tenant farmers didn't own their land they farmed which made them extremely vulnerable to being out of work. Including the poor farming status at the time, they had to downsize and sell a lot to stay in business.
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After the recent stock market crash, the farmers economic troubles from the last decade worsened. The had to begin selling land because of the surplus of food they had provided becoming some of the first to be homeless at the time.
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The Okies were farmers who sold everything, and headed to the West for better opportunity. Since there was so many of them, the jobs were slim, and they found the situation the same as back from where they came.
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Many Americans believed the Mexicans were considered illegal aliens, and many were forced back to their homeland. Others would be tempted out by their lack of respect and success in cities or farmlands.
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These small communities of homeless people were called Hoovervilles in spite of the President at the time. They resorted mostly to public charities and begging to earn anything.
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At this time, over 1/4th of the whole country was unemployed. Beggars and hobos filled the streets looking for opportunity.
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A dust storm 1,000 feet high consumed the Great Plains region. These storms ravaged the plains for four years making it impossible for anything to be done. The dust bowl worsened the economic depression, and hit the farmers the worst of all
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To keep the mind off of the economic problems, people read books as entertainment. Gone with the Wind was a popular book at the time, and became one of the most famous stories ever written.
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Since the men of the family were out of work or begging on the streets, the woman stepped up as the prime source of money in the families. They would sell baked goods, wash neighborhood clothing, and make clothing for people to wear right from their own home.
