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America and the 1930s

An Introduction to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. America and the 1930s. The Great Depression . Started on “Black Tuesday” (10/29/1929) when Wall Street crashed. Lasted well into 1939. Marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, etc.

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America and the 1930s

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  1. An Introduction to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird America and the 1930s

  2. The Great Depression • Started on “Black Tuesday” (10/29/1929) when Wall Street crashed. Lasted well into 1939. • Marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, etc. • Businesses closed, factories shut down, banks failed. • Farm income dropped 50%. • Market investors lost over $40 billion by the end of 1929.

  3. Effects on the People • 13 million people became unemployed. • In 1932, 34 million people belonged to families with no regular full-time wage earner. • Families split up and abandoned their homes in search of work. • “Hoovervilles” – a jab at the failing president – were shanty towns where poor families settled while searching for jobs.

  4. Hoovervilles & Soup Kitchens • People were left without homes, savings, and jobs. • Shacks were built from old cars, milk crates, wood scraps • Soup Kitchens were created to feed the pour. • Served free soup and bread • Water could be added to feed more people. • Lines often stretched for blocks of people hoping to be fed. • Originally operated by churches & charities. • Eventually gov’t operated many.

  5. Gov’t Agencies Under “The New Deal” • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • Sent 250,000 young men to work camps to perform reforestation and conservation tasks. • Civil Works Administration (CWA) • Provided public works jobs at $15/week • Works Progress Administration (WPA) • Employed 8.5 million workers in construction and other jobs, but more importantly provided work in arts, theater, and literary projects.

  6. Racial Tension in the 1930s • Despite the abolition of slavery and decline of groups like the KKK, southern racism was still rampant. • Tension began to appear after influx of African Americans in the north. • African Americans were discriminated against under the New Deal agencies.

  7. Jim Crow Laws • State & local laws enacted between 1876-1965 • Legalized racial segregation in public places (schools, restaurants, movie theaters, stores, etc.) • Began the “separate but equal” debate • What makes something “equal”?

  8. “The Scottsboro Boys” Trials • 9 black young men were accused of raping two homeless white women on a freight train. • The investigation was done quickly and remains questionable. • 8 of them were convicted by all-white juries and were defended by ill-experienced defense attorneys. • 8 were sentenced to death on rape charges until the Supreme Court lifted their sentence. • Ended up serving between 6-19 years in prison.

  9. Lynching • The act of hanging someone as a way to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a specific group of people as carried out by a mob. • Most commonly associated with African Americans, though included other minority groups. • While the bulk of American lynchings took place between 1882-1968, lynchings have occurred as recently as 1998.

  10. Harper Lee – author of TKAM • Born on April 28, 1926 • Grew up in a small town in Alabama (Monroeville) • Father was a lawyer & state legislator • As a child she was a precocious reader and very much a tomboy. • Best friends with schoolmate & neighbor, Truman Capote. • TKAM is her only well known piece of writing. • Honored in 2007 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to American literature. This is the highest honor a civilian can be given.

  11. To Kill a Mockingbird • Published in 1960 and became an instant best seller. • Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. • Currently has over 33 million copies sold. • Recently named “Novel of the Century” by The Library Journal (Mr. Barry’s favorite magazine).

  12. Setting • Maycomb, Alabama (fictional) • A small town • Very similar to the town Lee grew up in • 1933-1935 • Age of Great Depression • Racial Tension

  13. Major Characters You Should Know • Jean Louise Finch • Nicknamed “Scout”; narrator and protagonist; 6-year-old tomboy; smart for her age. • Often compared to Harper Lee’s childhood. • Jeremy Finch • Nicknamed “Jem”; Typical American boy; Scout’s older brother (by 4 years); grows up in story. • Atticus Finch • Father; highly regarded in the community; lawyer; widower • Calpurnia • The Finch’s stern housekeeper/cook

  14. Additional Characters • Charles Baker Harris • Nicknamed “Dill”; a summertime friend and confidant of Scout & Jem. • Frequently compared to Truman Capote • Arthur Radley • Nicknamed “Boo”; neighbor of the Finches; recluse; infamous among Maycomb’s youth

  15. Ideas To Think About • Fear, Ignorance, Prejudice, Racism • Social Injustices • Existence of Good & Evil • True Courage • Growing Up/Loss of Innocence • Learning Life Lessons • Gender Roles • Written v. Unwritten Laws

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