Monopoly: America’s best-selling board game

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History of Popular Culture—Week 2, Assignment 1

Why do you think Monopoly became America’s best-selling game in 1935, during the Great Depression? Discuss the characteristics of the game and how it reflects (or does not reflect) the reality of this era.

Between 1932 and 1933—the height of the Great Depression—unemployment rates rose to between 20 and 25 percent1. More people in the U.S. were jobless than ever before. Whereas during the 20s, many of these people would have gone to theater productions or other relatively expensive entertainment venues, they could no longer afford to do so. As a result, many took to playing board games to pass their days.

With so many people desperate to make a living but not able to find a job, Monopoly was a welcome escape from reality. For a little while, they could forget their destitute situation and assume the role of a wealthy land owner or electric company owner or railroad tycoon. Players’ pieces moving around the board as the players’ turns passed helped to give players a sense—however false—that they were making a living. Just as many Monopoly players had formerly had regular jobs, passing the GO square was rewarded with $200, a reminder of the regular paychecks they once received.

Monopoly allowed unemployed Americans everything they wanted: fame, power, money, stability. It both was reminiscent of better times past and encouraged optimism for better times to come. The relief was welcome in this dark period of American history.


  1. Graph of unemployment rates [back]

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