The Grapes Of Wrath, The people and the Depression

The Grapes Of Wrath

The people and the Depression

In the movie The grapes of Wrath, the Joads undergo the hit of the depression, they have to leave their farm. They go to California for jobs, but find there are few jobs, and it pays little, or at least less then what they were told. The government tried to start programs to house and employ people like the Joads. Since the people who already lived in the cities in which these developments were put didn't want them there anyway, they tried to start a riot and have the police Arrest them. Although in the movie the plan was foiled, it could have worked in many other places, or the towns folk could have just created a lynch mob, and eventually the people living in the development would leave.

I believe that the economic situation of the country has a great effect on the fall, or succession of people like the Joads, but I don't believe government programs will effect them at all.

English: Civilian Conservation Corps, Third Corps ...

English: Civilian Conservation Corps constructing ...

English: WPA poster 1935 USA, color photo

For example, the great depression was a major economical event, and it greatly effected more then just people like the Joads, but programs like the public works administration which employed people for government construction projects. Another program, the Works Progress Administration, later called the Works Projects Administration was created to develop relief programs, and to keep a person's skills. From 1935-1943, it employed 8 million people, and spent 11 billion dollars. But in 1939, there were still 9.5 million still unemployed. Another program was the Civilian Conservation Corps. Unemployed, unmarried young men were enlisted to work on conservation and resource-development projects such as soil conservation, flood control, and protection of forests and wildlife. These men were provided with food, lodging, and other necessities, and were...