Historical Context: The Great Depression John Steinbeck: Philosophy and Themes Unit Expectations and Essential Questions

Great economic disaster from 1929 to ~1941 Unemployment at 25% 20% of banks FAIL The Dust Bowl makes millions homeless

The drought in the early 1930s in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas caused dust storm 100 million acres of farmland destroyed Many families headed West to California, Oregon, and Washington

The Americans made homeless from the Dust Bowl traveled West to California. John Steinbeck wrote at article series about the Harvest Gypsies

Government Resettlement Camps

 Born

in Salinas, CA

1902 Attended Stanford University for 6 years but got no degree Freelance journalist Won Pulitzer Prize for Grapes of Wrath Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962

 Commentary Alienation Commentary Commentary

on California laboring class

on the American Dream on social status/race/gender

 Were

putting some characters on TRIAL! Keep an evidence journal

Due DAILY THREE

quotes/notes each day

More

details to come