Historical Background "Of Mice and Men" Flashcards
When and where was Steinbeck born?
February 27, 1902 in Salinas California
Where did Steinbeck go to college? Did he finish?
Steinbeck went to Stanford in California but he dropped out in 1925
What important award did Steinbeck win?
The Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962
What dominates Salinas Valley’s economy? Why is it called “America’s salad bowl”?
Agriculture dominates the economy. It’s called “America’s salad bowl” because it grows lots of produce such as lettuce, broccoli, and peppers.
Why would people want to go to Salinas Valley?
- -It was in the west so the dust bowl didn’t harm that area.
- -farmers hoped to find more farm work
- -there were prime farming conditions
What caused the Great Depression?
- -Stock market crash
- -not enough federal regulations (banks invested in stocks and lost their money so they had to close)
- -standstill of trade
- -dust bowl
Why did Hoover decide to not get the government involved in the Great Depression?
He felt it wasn’t their responsibility to help the economy. He was far too cautious and conservative while trying to help during the Great Depression
What were FDR’s three main goals? What was the goal of the new deal?
1)
Relief for the unemployed
Recover the economy
Reform financial system
2) To regain trust between people and the financial system
What caused the dust bowl?
Over-farming and the drought
How did the New Deal help the dust bowl?
Soil Conservation Service = the people were told to plant trees and grass to help the soil, try and conserve water, and to try and stop over-farming.
What wave is Of Mice and Men taken place in (1930s)
The Professional Wave
What are some New Deal programs?
1) WPA = Works Progress Administration
2) TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority
3) CWA = Civil Works Administration
What day was Black Tuesday?
October 29th, 1929
