1. OF MICE AND MEN A little background information for yah…..

9. THE GREAT DEPRESSION  Stock Market Crash of 1929.  Black Tuesday October 29 th, 1929 was one of the major causes.

10.  Bank Failures.  9,000 banks failed.  Bank deposits were uninsured and thus banks failed because people simply lost their savings. Banks were also not willing to give out new loans which in turn caused the economy to drop.

11.  There was less trade between America and foreign countries because of a high tax on imports.  No Welfare  World Wide

12. SEASONAL MIGRANT WORKERS  In the 1930s many migrants moved from Oklahoma and were referred to as “Okies”  They were not treated very well by their bosses a they held discriminatory attitudes towards them  Still employed today for harvest seasons http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/art ifact_detail.cfm?aid=a_000750&oid=o b_000064

13. The Dust Bowl  http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/ artifact_detail.cfm?aid=a_000756& oid=ob_000064 There was a drought that occurred in the Mississippi Valley in the 1930s. People had to sell their farms because they couldn’t pay their taxes or other debts. Giant dust storms wiped away the top soil Schools were closed on account of the dust storms

14. John Steinbeck (February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. “If you're in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones. “ “Man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it. “ “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power. “

15. Novella A Novella is shorter than a novel. Famous Novellas: “Animal Farm” “A Clockword Orange” “Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

16. THEMES TO BE COVERED…  Friendship/Loneliness  Loyalty/Betrayal  Power/Powerlessness  The American Dream  Handicap and Insecurity  Justice/Morality

17. JOURNAL RESPONSE  What is a dream, hope, goal, or aspiration that you and your best friend share? How would this be changed if you were living during The Great Depression?  Would it be more or less likely that you could achieve it? Why or why not?