*Chapters 1 - 10, Assignment A

     The 1930's are mostly reminiscent of unemployment and extreme poverty due the Great Depression. The stock market plummeted on October 29, 1929 and stocks would become worthless. Everyone tried to sell their stock but no one would buy it. People had so much of their finances invested in stock that it instead of becoming rich, they became bankrupt. This crash would lead to a chain series of events. Many banks would shut down because they had so much money invested in people. This would then lead to a mass panic because people rushed to the remaining open banks to withdraw whatever money was left over, thus causing more banks to shut down. Another aspect of the depression was the rapid rate that businesses were closing. People were being much more frugal in their spending and so there was not enough money flowing. Since less people were spending, the businesses were making less and were forced to cut jobs, again causing people to spend less and less in an endless chain cycle of events. The unemployment rate would reach a staggering 21 % at the Great Depression's height causing an extremely unequal distribution of wealth. The rich were extremely wealthy while the working class was dirt poor; the working class would include farmers. In the Grapes of Wrath, this unequal distribution of wealth is showcased because farmers likes the Joads are in the midst of an exodus to California because of the opportune rumors surrounding it. They are so money-strapped that they pawn most of their belongings to none other than the rich bankers. These brokers are ruthless and pay outrageously low prices for their items. To the misfortune of the farmers, they have no choice but to accept the money offered because there is no other choice; they are penniless.                        

                                                          Image 1

http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/GreatDepression.html