The Grapes of Wrath A story of The

The Grapes of Wrath A story of The Great Depression

Quick Write ¬Write down 3 things you know about the Great Depression – Causes – Effects

The Great Depression ¬Causes – 1920’s economy not in balance – Debt – Speculation on the rise – Overproduction slows industrial growth – Stock market crash-- October 1929

The Dust Bowl ¬“Plant more wheat! Wheat will win the war!” ¬ 4 million acres of grassland turned into wheat ¬New technology--tractors ¬Wheat prices fell in early 1920’s

The Dust Bowl ¬ Severe drought ¬ No grasses to protect topsoil ¬ Included eastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas ¬ “Black blizzards” ¬ 60% of Dust Bowl families lost their farms ¬ Thousands of families moved west ¬ No relief for these families until WWII

The Dust Bowl

The Grapes of Wrath ¬John Steinbeck – Grew up in Central California – Went to Oklahoma and rode with Dust Bowl migrants to California

The Grapes of Wrath ¬Lived with migrants in Hoovervilles ¬Pleaded for a more tolerant help for migrants ¬Considered a novel of protest/social document

The Grapes of Wrath ¬ The story of the Joad family moving from Oklahoma to California ¬ Lots of extra material not included in family struggle – Intercalary chapters • general picture of the society • Background of the Dust Bowl, about Route 66, selling property, etc. • Support for the narrative; historical information

Depression Pictures ¬ Take a look at the picture ¬ Write for one minute in poem style about – – – Sights Sounds Tastes Feelings Mood, etc ¬ When the minute is up, fold the paper over so only the last line is showing; pass to your right