Former President Calvin Coolidge said: “In other times of depression it has always been possible to see things that were solid and on which one could rest hope, but as I look around me, I no longer see anything that can give rise to hope, nothing of man” and to a certain extent it was true. Americans lost all hope in life by entering a deep, dark tunnel, with no light in the end. The Great Depression was not something that appeared out of nowhere; it grew over time like a tumor and eventually ravaged America with excessive disease. No decade in the 20th century was more terrifying than the 1930s. The collapse of the stock market, due to massive stock purchases, the debts of heavily indebted World War I farmers and consumers, and the Unequal distribution of wealth all contributed to the collapse of the economy. The Great Depression had a major impact on American history; this affected one of the greatest nations and countries associated with him. The Great Depression afflicted society, farmers, and innocent children in more ways than one can imagine. Society is still seen as a group of judgmental and ignorant individualists, but the Great Depression caused a change in their attitudes. President Herbert Hoover was a self-reliant person who believed that in order for our Americans to get through these desperate times, they must rely on themselves and make the effort to provide for their families instead of expecting the government to holds their hand all the time. (Alva, Danzer, Krieger, Wilson, Woloch 479). Hungry and homeless people could no longer rely on the federal government to provide for them; therefore, they began to depend on each other, becoming more of a community than ever before. Women would...... middle of paper ......st Bowl. Ultimately, when you hit rock bottom, things can only get better. Works Cited Danzer, Gerald A., Jorge Klor De Alva, Larry S. Krieger, and Nancy Woloch. “The Great Depression Begins.” The Americans. McDougal Littell, 2008. 464-89. Print."Digital History." Digital history. Internet. January 16, 2014. “The Great Depression Hits Farms and Cities in the 1930s “Iowa Pathways.” The Great Depression hits farms and towns in the 1930s “Iowa Pathways.” Internet. January 19, 2014. “Quotes about the Great Depression.” » Shmoop. Internet. January 19, 2014. “How Depression Affected Children.” How Depression Affected Children. Internet. January 19, 2014. Lowe, Christopher. Agriculture during the Great Depression. PDF."Midwest Literature." Midwestern Literature. Internet. January 19, 2014. “Social and Cultural Effects of Depression.” Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Internet. January 17. 2014.