Homework help, please!?

Question

For homework, I have to write an historical fiction story about Chicago between 1830-1940. I wanted to write a story about a girl who used to be rich but her father loses his job during the great Depression, and now she has to move to a dirty apartment building. My question is, was there wallpaper and luxurious mattresses and expensive European furniture and things like that in the 30s?

And what could have happened to make someone really rich become suddenly poor?

Answer 1

This sounds like a great story! Kudos!

Absolutely there were mattresses, European furniture, etc. Think about fabrics and other textiles as well. Soft vs. coarse blankets. Having a pillow, not having a pillow... Think about plumbing. At that time, there were many apartment buildings that had one bathroom PER FLOOR, so all the inhabitants had to wait their turn before using it. That's a lot of people to share a bathroom with! Plenty of hot water was also an issue in apartment buildings, as was proper heating. Air conditioning was reserved for upscale buildings so I would think hot summer days would be miserable. There are other things to consider, such as roaches, rats/mice, lice, and general pests/vermin.

Hope all that helps.

Answer 2

During the 1930's there were lots of luxurious items. It was a time for flaunting wealth, so those who had it spent loads on buying the best. Remember in those days furniture, at least expensive furniture, was hand made, as were many other things, vases, curtains, upholstery and so on. The poorer people bought the newly mass produced things. Cars were owned only by the rich. There was no TV, no computers, and lots of other things we all take for granted now. During the depression many businesses folded and millions lost their jobs. However this was mainly rectified when the 2nd World War started as America was able to sell materials to the allies (Britain, France, Belgium, Hiolland, Norway and Denmark) and some African countries, Australia and New Zealand as the U S was neutral at that time and, to it's shame, used that neutrality to make millions in lend-lease before being dragged into the war by Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour and Churchill's declaration of war on Japan that forced America to declare war on Germany. By this time the economy was back on track.

In the 1930's the easiest way for a rich person to become poor was by poor investment. As manufacturing industry was hard hit, anyone with a great number of shares in such companies would see their investments vanish overnight as the companies became bankrupt. Banks also went bust thus losing millions in deposits for account holders. People owning large businesses saw their money vanish as the businesses failed and even the buildings they occupied could only be sold for a fraction of their worth. Those actually making money were those astute enough to buy stocks at low prices in businesses that survived the Wall Street crash and the depression and which, on becoming profitable again, made millions for those investors.

Answer 3

Yes, there were such things back in the 30's, but only for those who could afford to pay for them. Few could.

Edit - The Great Depression caused many to lose all their financial assets back in those days. You already had that element in your story.

You could easily modify this so that the father kills himself and the girl ends up in one of the many horrible orphanages of that time. You have the makings of a really good story here.

Answer 4

in about 1930 certainly yes

Answer 5

yes, all those things were in the 30's. just some technology wasn't there...like TV, computer, cell phones.

Answer 6

Sorry can't help

Answer 7

thats perfect.