1. Introduction, or Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters

2. Introduction
To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) is a largely autobiographical novel written by Harper Lee.
Biography – the story of someone’s life
Autobiography – the story of someone’s life, told by that person

3. About the Author Harper Lee Born Nelle Harper Lee, April 28, 1926
Grew up during the Great Depression – hard economic times
Grew up in Monroeville, Alabama, in the heart of the South, where racial tension was high

4. Autobiographical Elements: Harper Lee v. Scout Finch
Born in Monroeville, Alabama
Grew up in 1930s
Father was a lawyer
Mother’s maiden name = Finch
Born in Maycomb, Alabama
Grew up in 1930s
Father (Atticus) is a lawyer
Last name = Finch

5. About the author and the universe of the intended audience
Author Text Audience
Harper Lee TKAM 1960s Americans

6. What was life like during the 1930s?

7. What was the Great Depression?
The worst economic crisis of the century (10 years)
Over 13 million people were left unemployed
Stock Market collapsed and businesses went bankrupt
Farmers lost entire crops
Many people lost their homes

9. Stock Market Crash 1929
Wall Street was put into a panic – wiped out millions of investors
Due to this drop consumer spending and investment dropped
Which lead to companies laying off workers and producing less product…

10. The Results…

11. Banks failed… 9,000 banks failed
Bank deposits were uninsured which meant that people simply lost their savings.
No loans were given out
Lead to less and less spending

12. Unemployment

13. Reduction of the number of items people were purchasing lead to less items being produced which lead to a reduction in the workforce.
Unemployment lead to being unable to pay for things they had bought through installment plans and items were repossessed.

14. President Hoover Herbert Hoover was president at the start
Philosophy: We’ll make it!
What He Did: Nothing!
Wanted people to be patient and self-reliant.
The poor were looking for help and no ideas on how to correct or help were coming

15. People in cities would wait in line for bread to bring to their family.

16. Depression Homeless Stand in Line
The homeless and unemployed of the Great Depression wait in line seeking shelter in New York.
Image:  © Bettmann/CORBIS Date Photographed:  1930 Location Information:  New York, New York, USA

17. Some families were forced to relocate because they had no money.

18. “Hooverville”
Some families were forced to live in shanty towns--a grouping of shacks and tents in vacant lots.
They were referred to as “Hooverville” because of President Hoover’s lack of help during the depression.

19. Image:  © CORBIS Date Photographed:  May 1, 1930
Location Information:  
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Man in Chicago Shantytown A man reads a newspaper in front of his shack at Chicago shantytown during the Great Depression. The shantytown's site became the grounds for the 1933 World's Fair. Illinois, USA.

22. *FDR* Franklin D. Roosevelt
When he was inaugurated unemployment had increased by 7 million.
Poor sections (like Harlem) had 50% of the pop. unemployed
Instated the “New Deal”

23. Dustbowls and drought
Not only were the areas dealing with the loss of money and jobs but many locations were devastated by drought.
(Great Plains region of US and prairie lands of Canada)
Very little rain, light soil and high winds combined to create unbelievable chaos.
“black blizzards” – crazy dense dust clouds that choked cattle and destroyed pasture land.
60% of the population were driven from the area and into the cities.

24. Dustbowls…

28. Definition of Prejudice:
Definition of Prejudice:
preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment.