When the Great Depression hit, no one was expecting it because for the most part, everyone was doing well during the roaring twenties. The Great Depression had a large impact on everyone in the work force and caused a major increase in unemployment rates. At first, employers of “factories and stores cut back payrolls” which caused workers to get less than what they expected when payday came around or nothing at all… for example, “teachers went without paychecks for months” (Chudacoff 197). Then soon after, people began to get laid off because production rates were decreasing and there was no longer a need for as many workers as before. This caused for people to depend on the government even more than ever because they had to take care of themselves and their family. And as unemployment rates increased, the more people depended on the government so “it diminished the nation’s purchasing power” (Chudacoff 198).
