The history inside the grapes of wrath
The novel takes place during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. During these time periods, the United States economy was in incredibly poor shape. Many people were homeless and jobless. Farmers bought new machinery during World War 1 to be able to make agricultural production easier and faster, but they needed to borrow money to do so. After the war ended, most farmers were in major debt. That added with the significant drop in prices on crops left the farmers at the mercy of the debt collectors who, more often than not, stripped the farmers of their land and home.
The Great Depression started in 1929 after the stock market crashed. Companies and banks all over the country were closing due to the lack of income. Because the farmers no longer had a way to make any income, they could not buy from companies or use banks. During this time, most people in the United States were farmers which meant that the majority of people were left unemployed. This created the hardest financial time known to American history.
Also during this time was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl started in the 1930's and lasted for several years. It was a severe drought that ruined all of the arable land. The severe dust swept across the southern plains from the North and affected over five million properties. The thick layer of dust that coated everything made all of the land unusable, preventing farmers from growing there crops.
The Great Depression started in 1929 after the stock market crashed. Companies and banks all over the country were closing due to the lack of income. Because the farmers no longer had a way to make any income, they could not buy from companies or use banks. During this time, most people in the United States were farmers which meant that the majority of people were left unemployed. This created the hardest financial time known to American history.
Also during this time was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl started in the 1930's and lasted for several years. It was a severe drought that ruined all of the arable land. The severe dust swept across the southern plains from the North and affected over five million properties. The thick layer of dust that coated everything made all of the land unusable, preventing farmers from growing there crops.
Oklahoma History
In 1803, Oklahoma was apart of the Louisiana Purchase and on November 16, 1907, Native American territory and Oklahoma territory were combined to Oklahoma, the 46th state. In the beginning of the 1820s, the federal government made Native American tribes leave their land and move west to Native American Territory and it was known as the “Trail of Tears”. Oklahoma was a rich state because the main economic activities were drilling for oil, using machines for manufacturing, meat packing and also a lot of minerals were grown. Farmers raised cows, pigs and other livestock products as well. Improvement was forming where the staples were located. Socialism was becoming popular with first democrats, but later the amount of republican electives began to rise. Prices for oil and food were increasing while banks and businesses were losing money, causing them to become bankrupt and in debt. During World War 1, food was in high demand which forced farmers to borrow money in order to buy new machinery so that they could grow more crops. After the war was over, they no longer needed a plethora of food. The farmers were no longer making as much money and were in debt because of the machinery they bought. Many farmers were forced off of their land, leaving them with no way of generating income. A great deal of people lost their home and land, leaving them in poverty and desperate for a job. This period was known as the Great Depression. California began sending out many signs advertising the jobs available. People began migrating to California in search of jobs so that they could survive. Unfortunately, when they arrived, there were few jobs available and the jobs paid very little. The people originally from California began calling the people who migrated there from Oklahoma “okies”. After the Great Depression and World War 2, Native Americans were receiving more rights, such as getting license plates, and being able to open up stores, casinos and do other commercial activities. Oklahoma was also becoming more economically powerful in not just businesses but also health, medical researching and financial things.