What were the economic problems during the Great Depression in America that caused such social misery?

[Mylee]

I'm writing an essay. Here is the question:

Compare and contrast the approaches of the democratic and republican parties (Hoover and Roosevelt) to the economic and social problems during the Great Depression of the 30s in America.

My structure for the essay is for each paragraph, this:
ECONOMIC PROBLEM
SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
DEM&REP APPROACHES

So I need about 5 or 6 MAJOR economic problems of the Great Depression, such as unemployment, food shortages, etc. Please help?

=3

[Cynthia LY]

1. Stock Market Crash of 1929
2. Bank Failures
3. Reduction in Purchasing Across the Board
4. American Economic Policy with Europe
5. Drought Conditions

source:
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/grea...ession.htm