Describe the hardships that Americans faced during the Great Depression. Using historical evidence and examples from the film “Cinderella Man”.

The story of James Braddock is heavily laden with
hardships faced during the Depression.  In the opening scene, the Braddock family does
not have much to eat, as economic stress has placed its grip on the family unit.  When
their child asks for more food, Jimmy concocts a story how in his dream he had a huge
steak with George Raft and other Hollywood celebrities and "was stuffed."  At the same
time, Mae, Braddock's wife, has to dilute the milk with water in order to maximize its
use.  There are other realities conveyed through the film, as well.  When Braddock lines
up at the docks for work, the foreman asks for "five" or needs "ten" workers out of a
field of hundreds who clamor at the gate for a shot at a day's work.  While working on
the dock one day, Mike, a friend of Jimmy, notices his broken hand while working and
tells him in a heartbreaking manner, "I need this job, man."  Finally, when Jimmy's son
talks of friends being sent away because of financial hardship, James looks at his son,
dead on, and says that he is not sending his child away.  Probably the best and most
telling aspect of the life of the Great Depression would be when Braddock agrees to
fighting Max Baer, Heavyweight champion of the world.  When explaining why he feels no
fear, Braddock argues that when working people have to struggle and, in cases like
Mike's, die for work, for money, for a job, little else can be feared as Jimmy argues
working on the docks is far worse than anything Baer can throw at
him.