The Great Depression was a time in history that had a noticeable and largely significant influence on the world. The hardships that people went through have become instilled in time, teaching future generations of the changes that can affect many people. John Garraty looks into the reasons and times that ruled the society during the hardships and limitations that will never be forgotten.
Very specific words are said by Garraty when he identifies the period in history as “a cataclysmic event and it produced such extraordinary changes in the political, economic, and social structure of the United States…” (Garraty 167). The 1900’s were a time when the world was changing, torn by war and many things would define the future at a speed previously unseen. His book looks at the factors that have caused and prolonged the issues that have deprived many people of jobs and ability to come out of the atrocious conditions.
John Garraty also examines how agriculture was impacted, as people were very much dependant on it. The industry was at an all time low which caused a chain reaction of people losing jobs and not being able to support themselves or their families. As the Great Depression happened in other countries as well, it was an international phenomenon that has had a profound effect on several strong and major nations.
John Garraty mentions that a lot of people thought the Great Depression happened because of the” Wall Street crash of October 1929” (Garraty 169). It is possible to suppose that one event would start the process but even though it could have been the catalyst, it was not enough to have such an effect all by itself. There were many factors that led to the global fall of economy. The government was taking close look at the budgeting problems and several policies were being analyzed.
Hoover is mentioned several times as a center figure in the balancing and searching for the right strategy. As the breakdown was commonplace, the volume of production was decreased and the bankruptcy of many firms became inevitable. The radical changes had to be made and Roosevelt became the key person who influenced the nation and directed it in the right way (Garraty 176). He has given people better access to jobs and a chance to rebuild the world.
Even though John Garraty takes a detailed look at some important points, the evidence is somewhat unclear to the layperson. The reasons and causes for the Great Depression must be deeply analyzed, so that such future situations can be avoided. The book also gives a lot of examples that come from other historical texts and little explanation is given as to the reasoning and thinking of the writer.
A person reading the book must be very knowledgeable of the events and the moment in history when the Great Depression took place. Someone who is unaware will miss the points that require attention and the focus will be lost. Another improvement could be related to the taking apart of solutions and outcomes that were developed by the government and how people have influenced the world domestically and internationally.
Overall, the book is educational and has ideas that are very useful in understanding and learning about the past, as well as the difficulties people had to go through. Although, it would not be enough to paint the whole enormous picture, so other sources must be consulted.
Works Cited
Garraty, John. The Great Depression. Harpswell, United States: Anchor Publishing, 1987. Print.