The Great Depression
English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 1.1.1
The Great Depression as Context for Of Mice and Men
Following the Wall Street Crash, America was thrown into the Great Depression. This was a very difficult time economically.
Wall Street Crash
- The Great Depression was triggered by an event in 1929 called the Wall Street Crash, which was when the value of shares on the stock market collapsed suddenly and drastically (Wall Street is the main street in the financial district of New York City).
Unemployment
- The most serious consequence of the Wall Street Crash and The Great Depression which followed was mass unemployment.
- This can be seen in Of Mice and Men as workers like George and Lennie are forced to travel around to find work, always living in fear of being “canned.”
Test yourself on The Great Depression
What triggered the Great Depression?
Where is Wall Street?