What where people forced to do to survive the great depression?
There were a few lucky people who retained their jobs during the Great Depression. Some were able to obtain part-time work and lived on less income and perhaps what little savings they had. Some sold or lost their homes and moved in with relatives. The symbol of the Depression, the man on the street selling apples, was an attempt to create work and also sell an agricultural product. It was not very successful. Many men left home so they would not be a burden to their family. These became the “hoboes” who would often “ride the rails” searching for jobs in other parts of the country. If they found work, they would send some money home. Others pretended to go to work. They would leave home in the morning and wander the parks or streets looking for work, and then return home for the evening. Many took to begging. In small, rural areas, men would often approach a farm house and ask if there were any jobs to be done in return for some food or a place to sleep.
