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”