The Great The Great Depression, Depression,
Migrant Farm Migrant Farm Workers and Workers and Of Of Mice and MenMice and Men
The 1930’sThe 1930’s
The Great Depression, severe drought in The Great Depression, severe drought in Midwest-dust bowl-forces shift to urban Midwest-dust bowl-forces shift to urban
Spurs industrialization-less labor neededSpurs industrialization-less labor needed Labor unions grow-strikesLabor unions grow-strikes Roosevelt-Nat’l Labor Relations Act Roosevelt-Nat’l Labor Relations Act
facilitates unionizationfacilitates unionization Communism—popular social movement- Communism—popular social movement-
“red decade”“red decade” Social Security Act, repeal prohibition, Social Security Act, repeal prohibition,
New DealNew Deal
The Dust bowlThe Dust bowl
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
Economic problems and severe labor Economic problems and severe labor strifestrife
Labor conflicts—docks, packing Labor conflicts—docks, packing sheds, and fieldssheds, and fields
Steinbeck wrote about their struggles Steinbeck wrote about their struggles in in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men
1938—half the nation’s grain 1938—half the nation’s grain harvested by combines—took only five harvested by combines—took only five men, compared to 350men, compared to 350
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
Roaming men followed harvests—Roaming men followed harvests—essentialessential
1900—125,000 migrants traveled 1900—125,000 migrants traveled along route from Minnesota to along route from Minnesota to Washington state.Washington state.
Rail and empty boxcarsRail and empty boxcars Paid $2.50--$3.00/day plus room Paid $2.50--$3.00/day plus room
and board—often a tentand board—often a tent
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
World War I—wages rose because of World War I—wages rose because of Industrial Workers of the World—800 Industrial Workers of the World—800 mile picket line across Great Plains statesmile picket line across Great Plains states
But…But… Late 1930’s 200,000-350,000 migrants Late 1930’s 200,000-350,000 migrants
underpaid, underfed and underemployedunderpaid, underfed and underemployed Yet, California’s agricultural system could Yet, California’s agricultural system could
not exist without migrant workersnot exist without migrant workers
Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
Farms became “food factories”Farms became “food factories” Farmers- “absentee owners” who Farmers- “absentee owners” who
remained in city officesremained in city offices ““Farming” was more like an industry Farming” was more like an industry
like lumber and oillike lumber and oil End 1930’s—1/3 large scale in US were End 1930’s—1/3 large scale in US were
in CA, trend toward corporate farmingin CA, trend toward corporate farming Encouraged low wage foreign workersEncouraged low wage foreign workers
Jobless MenJobless Men
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
““Bindle-stiffs”—white Americans among Bindle-stiffs”—white Americans among the migrants, single, followed harveststhe migrants, single, followed harvests
No union representationNo union representation No money to pay duesNo money to pay dues Move too muchMove too much Unskilled workersUnskilled workers
Cannery and Agricultural Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union—Workers Industrial Union—Communist led unionCommunist led union
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
By mid 1934—led 50 strikes, claimed By mid 1934—led 50 strikes, claimed to raise wages by 2 centsto raise wages by 2 cents
Summer 1934 union broken by anti-Summer 1934 union broken by anti-Communist activities of employers Communist activities of employers and state authoritiesand state authorities
Trial—convicted of treasonTrial—convicted of treason Later freed and appealed Later freed and appealed Workers and strike breakers battledWorkers and strike breakers battled
Agriculture during the Agriculture during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
After harvest workers weren’t neededAfter harvest workers weren’t needed Growers wouldn’t pay all yearGrowers wouldn’t pay all year Steady work impossibleSteady work impossible Steinbeck wrote Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men when when
becoming involved in CA’s social and becoming involved in CA’s social and economic problemseconomic problems
WWII absorbed many workers, “bindle WWII absorbed many workers, “bindle stiffs” disappeared from American stiffs” disappeared from American cultureculture
CriticismCriticism
Popular at first, criticized after Popular at first, criticized after The The Grapes of WrathGrapes of Wrath
Dismissed as communist or leftistDismissed as communist or leftist Still read by publicStill read by public ““Compassion balanced by an objective Compassion balanced by an objective
view of the world and man”view of the world and man” One of the most frequently challenged One of the most frequently challenged
books by school censors todaybooks by school censors today
““The best-laid The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ schemes o’ mice an’ menmen
Gang aft agley”Gang aft agley”——Robert Burns, “To a Robert Burns, “To a
Mouse”Mouse”