Essay about The Grapes Of Wrath Connections To The Great...

The Grapes of Wrath: Connections to the Great Depression The decaying state of the American economy and the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s brought about the necessity for the United States to reconsider its attitudes and examine the long term effects of its policies concerning wide-scale socioeconomic problems that were constantly growing bigger. The Great Depression led to the creation of many new and innovative government policies and programs, along with revisions to older economic systems. However, these cost the government billions of dollars in a country that had consistently been stretching the gap between the rich and poor. This continued as the Great Depression began to change everything people had grown old†¦show more content†¦They all favored big business and the wealthy who chose to invest in these companies, not the common man. Andrew Mellon, Coolidges Secretary of the Treasury, was the main force behind these and other tax cuts throughout the 1920s. In effect, he was able to lower federal taxes such that a man with a million-dollar annual income had his federal taxes reduced from $600,000 to $200,000 In 1923, the supreme court had even ruled minimum-wage legislation unconstitutional. So, the aftermath of the Great Depression yielded that many middle-class citizens and few of high financial standing lost everything they had. The already monumental lower-class was unceasingly multiplying. Although of course, there was the small number that managed to remain wealthy, but not always through fair and virtuous ways. The Great Depression could indeed be called the great leveler because it evened out the financial class system in a way never thought possible, where some of the rich and middle-class had become impoverished and empty-handed after being lowered to essentially the same financial level as everybody else. This was also an unforeseen timeShow MoreRelatedThe Grapes of Wrath: Connections to the Great Depression1608 Words   |  7 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath: Connections to the Great Depression The decaying state of the American economy and the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s brought about the necessity for the United States to reconsider its attitudes and examine the long term effects of its policies concerning wide-scale socioeconomic problems that were constantly growing bigger. The Great Depression led to the creation of many new and innovative government policies and programs, along with revisions to older economicRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1060 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath as a social commentary, looking to make reformations for the migrant workers that suffered throughout the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. 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He was one four children and was the only boy. B) Childhood and Adolescence 1.Born on February 27, 1902 2.Began telling stories as a child 3. Sent short stories to magazines under a false name 4. He was interested in biologyRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1174 Words   |  5 PagesCody Kunzman 10/26/2014 The Grapes of Wrath Paper â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† written by John Steinbeck is a classic America novel to say the least. Not only did he create such an inspiring and detailed story line but it was followed up by an Oscar nominated film directed by John Ford. The similarities and differences within the book and the film are very controversial and being able to break down what all happened in each will help a rhetorical analysis to take place in this paper. Rhetorically speakingRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck2144 Words   |  9 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath is a well-known beloved novel of American Literature, written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. Whoever said a road is just a road has not read The Grapes of Wrath. From the time we read when Tom Joad, novel’s protagonist, returns home after four years in prison; the meaning of roads changed. Route 66, also known as the mother road the road of flight, was a lifeline road, which allowed thousands of families to pursue thei r hopes and dreams. This road is also the road that