"The Grapes of Wrath"

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"The Grapes of Wrath"

"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck illustrates the difficulties of the Depression, especially during the "Dust Bowl" which greatly affected the Central United States in the sense that it destroyed agriculture in the area, causing half a million people to become homeless and migrate West, looking for work.

What were the primary causes of the migration westward?
What were some of the difficulties these families would encounter on their odyssey west?
If you were one of the migrants, what would be your primary concerns? Would the outcome justify the risk?

Red Cross volunteers wearing dust masks, Kansas.

The links below can be used to guide your understanding of the themes in Steinbeck's classic novel. Utilize them as you develop questions concerning the topic.

On the Great Depression http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/depression.htm
On the Dust Bowl http://www.ptsi.net/user/museum/dustbowl.html
Dust Bowl Migration - Oral History Interviews http://www.lib.csub.edu/special/dustbowl.html
Understanding "The Grapes of Wrath" http://www.aresearchguide.com/wrath.html

Created By: Michael Oellig