Of Mice and Men: Section 2 Objectives: 1.To understand the context of Of Mice and Men the Wall Street Crash the Great Depression the Dust Bowl

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 America in 1920s In 1920’s the US experienced a consumer boom. With the seemingly growing wealth and the changes in social attitudes after WW1, many areas of the country experienced a lavish and rich lifestyle. Scott Fitzgerald captured some of that in his novel The Great Gatsby.The Great Gatsby

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 The Wall Street Crash During the boom. People bought consumer goods on investment plans and bought stocks. Banks lent too much money and by the end of the twenties people were spending more than they could earn. When stock prices collapsed on Wall Street in 1929 millions of people lost their savings.

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 The Depression With the Wall Street Crash America (and the rest of the world) was thrown into an economic depression. Businesses closed, workers lost their jobs and farm prices fell.

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 In America the effects of the Depression was increased by an huge environmental disaster.

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 Over-farming of land that had no rivers, little rain and high winds turned a vast area into a Dust Bowl by the mid-1930s. Settlers from the area lost everything and many moved west to seek a living in California.

Of Mice and Men: Section 2 Why is context relevant? 1.What happens to the way people are treated when times are difficult? 2.Steinbeck’s own political and social beliefs: left wing/socialist/ interested in workers’ rights

Of Mice and Men: Section 2