I would definitely say that this film broadened my understanding of the great depression in a way that a lecture never could. I have learned about the great depression many times throughout my education but I never realized how desperate these people really were. Tom and his family's trip is a great example of this. It amazed me that Tom’s entire family fit in a single car and drove across the country to look for work that wasn’t even guaranteed. Then the family found out, from a man in the camp they were staying in, that the work they were seeking probably wasn’t available anymore. However, they still ended up traveling to California. It also really hit me how much these people sacrificed to find work. Great examples of this were the deaths
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Mother Jones talked about how she went to a mine and during her visit there was a strike due to the workers wanted more wages. This lead to a shooting by United States deputy marshals in the mining camp. In this shooting, men were shot by surprise in their beds because they tried to convince workers who didn’t support the strike to leave the mines. Mother Jones then says, “After the crimes had been committed the marshals---the murderers--- were banqueted by the operators in the swellest hotel in Pennsylvania” (Zinn and Arnove 259). Mary Jones then tells the audience that they need to stand up and make a change; part of this change would include voting. Mother Jones then urges women to work and do their part. I think this speech was effective because it makes you furious that men were shot down and murdered without being violent. It would have moved me if I was a worked in the audience because I hate standing aside while I know that injustice is happening, especially if I feel like I have the chance to change it. Another part of the speech that would have inspired me was when Mother Jones says, “I refused to go to England and lecture only a few days ago because I was ashamed, first of all, to make the conditions here known to the world and second, because my services were needed here” (Zinn and Arnove 259). If I heard this I would have felt the same shame that Mother Jones felt. It was effective comparing us to other countries and essentially saying that the United States is much worse off then England. This would cause a sense of patriotism to kick in if I was in the audience and I am sure the audience felt the same way when they heard
Mother Jones talked about how she went to a mine and during her visit there was a strike due to the workers wanted more wages. This lead to a shooting by United States deputy marshals in the mining camp. In this shooting, men were shot by surprise in their beds because they tried to convince workers who didn’t support the strike to leave the mines. Mother Jones then says, “After the crimes had been committed the marshals---the murderers--- were banqueted by the operators in the swellest hotel in Pennsylvania” (Zinn and Arnove 259). Mary Jones then tells the audience that they need to stand up and make a change; part of this change would include voting. Mother Jones then urges women to work and do their part. I think this speech was effective because it makes you furious that men were shot down and murdered without being violent. It would have moved me if I was a worked in the audience because I hate standing aside while I know that injustice is happening, especially if I feel like I have the chance to change it. Another part of the speech that would have inspired me was when Mother Jones says, “I refused to go to England and lecture only a few days ago because I was ashamed, first of all, to make the conditions here known to the world and second, because my services were needed here” (Zinn and Arnove 259). If I heard this I would have felt the same shame that Mother Jones felt. It was effective comparing us to other countries and essentially saying that the United States is much worse off then England. This would cause a sense of patriotism to kick in if I was in the audience and I am sure the audience felt the same way when they heard