Hooverville

The New Deal, World War II, and the role they had in ending the Great Depression. Wars are a curious event. Two sides, typically gathered by political interests, pit their youth against their opposition and hope they emerge victorious. Yes, there’s many factors involved, and strategies are of course in play, but at the end of the day it boils down to the slaughter of young men just so their leaders can maintain their elevated social status. World War II was a prime example of this. More people…

In the context of literature, an author can be influenced by what is happening in the world around them. For example, Jack London wrote stories that took place in Alaska based off of his time in Alaska, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his book The Great Gatsby based off of his experiences in New York circa 1920, and Mark Twain wrote his novels using the same settings as what he was accustomed to in Mississippi. John Steinbeck also fits into this statement, as he was influenced by the Great Depression…

Humankind has a dual nature when it comes to the weak; they will either offer assistance or crush them to gain strength. Theologian Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” While he does not support the other half of man’s nature, it can not go neglected. John Steinbeck uses this duality in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The plot follows the Joad family making their way to California in search of work outside of Dust…

The Great Depression The Great Depression was the most intensive and enduring economic downturn. It varied nationwide and was the most widespread depression in the 20th century. A historian states, “that twenty percent of all americans made more than fifty of all american money...this uneven distribution of money became an important factor in the crash”(Millicap 28). The Great Depression caused devastating effects of the rich and poor. Profits, personal income, tax revenue all dropped more…

The impact of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression had an enormous effect on the economy and took a large toll on the people, as arguably the worst times this country has ever suffered through based on the widespread levels of poverty and death that occurred. The largest factor in the beginning of the Great Depression was the Stock Market Crash, but how did the crash ever take place to begin with? In the 1920’s also known as the Roaring Twenties, life was good, the U.S. was,…

The United States had risen above all countries after World War I only to fall to the worst economic crisis of its time in the late 1920’s during the Great Depression. In late October of 1929 the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday, marking the beginning of a worldwide depression, in five hours more than $10 billion disappeared, which is around $100 billion today. (Zinn, 788). However, the depression wasn’t spontaneously sparked by the stock market crash, the years leading to 1929 were a time…

I hope all of the class knows at least something about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Great Depression and his New Deal. Considering we just learned about it and had a test on it. But hopefully I can go over some details that we did not go over in class and share my take on the New Deal and how it was very successful both at the time and for the future. This is because it made up for Herbert Hoover’s mistakes, provided indirect and direct relief to millions, got America out of the Depression and…

remained in office for two terms. Roosevelt accepted his Democratic party nomination proudly and in person, promising a “New Deal” for the American people if elected President. Although not specifying exactly what the New Deal would give, Americans in Hoovervilles rubbed their hands over fires and cheered for a future President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt had dreamed of being President of the United States like his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt. Keeping his goals in sight, he led an…

For the Okie’s this is seen in the burning of Hooverville and the killing of Casey unprovocted later in the novel. In both cases, violence is brought upon the Okies not because of something they did, but out of fear of them unionizing with Tom even saying how what the police are doing “ain’t the law” (Steinbeck…

After the conclusion of World War I and leading up to World War II, there was increased presence of isolationist ideals and values. America had just gotten back from a war that costed the lives of American soldiers and tons of money in weapons and capital. Many Americans believed that it was time to step back from the Eastern Hemisphere and to return to the isolationist policies of their founding father, George Washington. American, for the most part, practiced these ideals of Washington in the…