I'm not sure of the specifics, but in the US personal bankruptcy didn't exist in its present form until 1978. It's very likely, that it was incredibly difficul

I'm not sure of the specifics, but in the US personal bankruptcy didn't exist in its present form until 1978. It's very likely, that it was incredibly difficult to file for bankruptcy in the era of company towns in the US---i.e. 1880 (first bankruptcy bill was filed in 1889) through 1934.