Decade of Despair Winnebago County During the Great...

The book I have chosen to review is Decade of Despair: Winnebago County During the Great Depression 1929-1939. Authors are Werner E. Braatz and Thomas J. Rowland. Copyright 2009 by University Press of America. Published Lanham, Maryland 20706. ISBN-13: 978-0761846406. The stock market crash of October 1929 drastically affected the economic growth of the entire United States. In Wisconsin the attitudes of many changed and several began to devise plans on surviving the worst depression in the Nation’s history. Wisconsin, like many other states suffered as factories began to close, wages dropped, and unemployment became even more common. The effect of the stock market crash was all felt at once, giving those little to no time to prepare for it. To help cope with the depression many companies began advertising to half price or reduced price items, these items consisted of anything from food to cars. Throughout the next month employment for unskilled labor began to dry up leaving few job opportunities for those not a trained. This was just the start of what was about to come. For the next ten years Winnebago County and the entire United States would continue to suffer in this period known as The Great Depression. The author’s main purpose in writing this book was to explain what went on in Winnebago County during The Great Depression. They discussed issues such as unemployment, debt relief, and slow industry during the depression and how those living in Winnebago County