The Great depression caused changes in the United States economy, culture, and government.  During the depression, “more that fifteen million people were unemployed” (McElvaine).  Jobs were hard to find and food was scarce.  “Large numbers of Americans were reduced to waiting in breadlines for food handouts” (McElvaine).  In addition, after the depression there was a political shift (Thorkelson).  Before the depression all but two of the presidents ever in office were republicans (Thorkelson).  When the Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt became president and helped end the depression with his new policies, people began to think more of Democrats.  “For several decades thereafter, Democrats usually controlled the federal government” (Thorkelson).  Furthermore, after the depression many countries ,including the United States, created new regulations of the economy (“The Great Depression”).  “The United States, for example, established the Securities and Exchange Commission (1934) to regulate new stock issues and stock market trading practices” (“The Great Depression”).  All in all, the depression had a major affect on the economy, culture and government of the United States.