This volume explores the severe economic depression that took place mostly in the 1930s in the United States. Beginning with a major fall in stock prices, the Great Depression had devastating effects for both rich and poor. Areas dependent on primary sector industries, such as mining and logging were hard hit. Farming communities and rural areas suffered as crop prices plummeted. Effects of the Great Depression continued to be felt up until World War II. These volumes explore documents that help to define events leading to the Great Depression, demonstrate its effects, and show the thinking of leaders and politicians at that time. Documents analyzed include: New York Daily News account of the Stock Market Crash of 1929; Eyewitness to History accounts from America in the 1930s: The Great Depression; Transcript of interview with poet Maya Angelou as part of the 1992 book The Great Depression; excerpts from Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother, depicting destitute farm pickers in California; and many more. Each in-depth chapter provides a thorough commentary and analysis of each primary source document, often reprinted in its entirety. Commentary includes a Summary, Overview, Defining Moment, Author Biography, Detailed Document Analysis, and discussion of Essential Themes.