VISUAL ACTIVITY The Panic of 1837 A sad family with an unemployed father confronts the fallout of the panic of 1837. The wife and children complain of hunger, the house is stripped nearly bare, and rent collectors loom in the doorway. The only support system for the unemployed in 1837 was the local almshouse, where families were split up and living conditions were harsh. Library of Congress. READING THE IMAGE: What does the clothing worn by family members suggest about their customary economic standing? Can you guess why the artist put sketches of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren on the wall? CONNECTIONS: What caused the panic of 1837, and why were its consequences suffered by so many people?