The Grapes of Wrath

A story of The Great Depression

Thanks to Ms. Kitchens (Vallhalla HS in El Cajon, CA)

Quick Check

Tell me 3 things

you know about the

Great Depression

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--tractorsWheat prices fell in early 1920’s

The Dust Bowl

Severe droughtNo grasses to protect topsoil Included eastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma,

New Mexico and Texas “Black blizzards”60% of Dust Bowl families lost their farmsThousands of families moved westNo 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 HoovervillesPleaded for a more tolerant help for

migrantsConsidered 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