What event led to significant documentary photography in America during the Great Depression?

The Farm Security Administration (FSA) played a pivotal role in the rise of documentary photography during the Great Depression in America. Established in the 1930s, the FSA aimed to combat rural poverty by providing assistance to struggling farmers. To document the harsh realities of life for these individuals, the FSA employed numerous photographers, most notably Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Russell Lee, whose works captured the dire living conditions and resilience of the American people during this tumultuous period.

This initiative not only raised awareness of the challenges faced by displaced farmers and migrant workers but also helped to humanize the economic crisis through powerful imagery. The photographs became a crucial part of the government's effort to garner support for relief programs and brought attention to the need for social reform. This body of work laid the foundation for documentary photography as a vital genre in American art and social commentary, effectively showcasing the interplay between art and activism during a critical time in history.