The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The characteristic of the Great Depression that this quote demonstrates is that the Great Depression had a devasting effect on American companies. Most of the United States companies had to close. The consequence of this was that millions of United States citizens lost their jobs and many banks went into bankruptcy.
After the United States stock market crash of October 29, 1929, the country entered into was known as the Great Depression, the most difficult economic situation the US has ever lived in.
One example of this terrible time is the quote published in the Nation, August 12, 1931. "Henry Ford has shut down his Detroit automobile factories almost completely. At least 75000 men have been thrown out of work."
