Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-1-the-great-depression

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# 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

![Wall Street Crash](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/b09b0dc5-75a9-4e27-9517-a9f9d01f22b4/stock-trading-wall-st.jpg)

- 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

![Unemployment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/acd29e0f-3fc2-4b00-885a-31e1a69573d9/unemployment-no-money.jpg)

- 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?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/57ac05f4-9509-43b5-93ff-d98d2bf43cbc/section/eeda6f2b-9d70-4bcf-a695-5c031b2d0240/session)

- Next topic: [1.1.2 Racism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-2-racism.md)

## English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men contents

### 1 Context & Overview
- 1.1 Context & Overview
  - [1.1.1 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-1-the-great-depression.md)
  - [1.1.2 Racism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-2-racism.md)
  - [1.1.3 The American Dream](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-3-the-american-dream.md)
  - [1.1.4 Of Mice & Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-4-of-mice-and-men.md)
- 1.2 John Steinbeck
  - [1.2.1 John Steinbeck's Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-1-john-steinbecks-life.md)
  - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Context & Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-context-and-overview.md)

### 2 Plot
- 2.1 Section 1 - Analysis
  - [2.1.1 Section 1 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-1-section-1-plot.md)
  - [2.1.2 Section 1 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-2-section-1-overview.md)
- 2.2 Section 2 - Analysis
  - [2.2.1 Section 2 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-1-section-2-plot.md)
  - [2.2.2 Section 2 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-2-section-2-overview.md)
- 2.3 Section 3 - Analysis
  - [2.3.1 Section 3 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-1-section-3-plot.md)
  - [2.3.2 Section 3 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-2-section-3-overview.md)
  - [2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-1-3.md)
- 2.4 Section 4 - Analysis
  - [2.4.1 Section 4 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-1-section-4-plot.md)
  - [2.4.2 Section 4 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-2-section-4-overview.md)
- 2.5 Section 5 - Analysis
  - [2.5.1 Section 5 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-1-section-5-plot.md)
  - [2.5.2 Section 5 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-2-section-5-overview.md)
- 2.6 Section 6 - Analysis
  - [2.6.1 Section 6 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-1-section-6-plot.md)
  - [2.6.2 Section 6 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-2-section-6-overview.md)
  - [2.6.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-4-6.md)

### 3 Key Characters
- 3.1 Main Characters
  - [3.1.1 George](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-1-george.md)
  - [3.1.2 Lennie - Strength](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-2-lennie-strength.md)
  - [3.1.3 Lennie - Innocence & Dependence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-3-lennie-innocence-and-dependence.md)
  - [3.1.4 Slim](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-4-slim.md)
  - [3.1.5 Curley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-5-curley.md)
  - [3.1.6 Curley's Wife - Flirtatious](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-6-curleys-wife-flirtatious.md)
  - [3.1.7 Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-7-curleys-wife-lonely-and-heartbroken.md)
  - [3.1.8 Crooks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-8-crooks.md)
  - [3.1.9 Candy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-9-candy.md)
  - [3.1.10 End of Topic Test - George & Lennie](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-10-end-of-topic-test-george-and-lennie.md)
  - [3.1.11 End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-11-end-of-topic-test-slim-curley-and-curleys-wife.md)
- 3.2 Minor Characters
  - [3.2.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-1-minor-characters.md)
  - [3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-2-end-of-topic-test-crooks-candy-and-others.md)

### 4 Themes
- 4.1 Key Themes
  - [4.1.1 Hopes, Dreams & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-1-hopes-dreams-and-reality.md)
  - [4.1.2 Racial Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-2-racial-prejudice.md)
  - [4.1.3 Loneliness & Companionship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-3-loneliness-and-companionship.md)
  - [4.1.4 The Weak & Strong](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-4-the-weak-and-strong.md)
  - [4.1.5 Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-5-women.md)
  - [4.1.6 End of Topic Test - Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-6-end-of-topic-test-key-themes.md)

### 5 Authorial Method
- 5.1 Writing Techniques
  - [5.1.1 Dialogue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-1-dialogue.md)
  - [5.1.2 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-2-imagery.md)
  - [5.1.3 Light](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-3-light.md)
  - [5.1.4 Sound](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-4-sound.md)
  - [5.1.5 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-5-symbolism.md)
  - [5.1.6 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-6-structure.md)
  - [5.1.7 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-7-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md)

### 6 Recap: Main Quotes
- 6.1 Quotes per Section
  - [6.1.1 Section 1 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-1-section-1-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.2 Section 2 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-2-section-2-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.3 Section 3 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-3-section-3-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.4 Section 4 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-4-section-4-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.5 Section 5 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-5-section-5-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.6 Section 6 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-6-section-6-quotations.md)
- 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes
  - [6.2.1 Imagery - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-1-imagery-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.2 Light - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-2-light-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.3 Sound - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-3-sound-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.4 Symbolism - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-4-symbolism-quotations.md)