Frontman Marcus Mumford explained the influence of the Great Depression set classic on the song's...
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Frontman Marcus Mumford explained the influence of the Great Depression set classic on the song's chorus in an interview with American Songwriter: Said Mumford: “I'd just finished (John Steinbeck’s novel) Grapes of Wrath and was feeling pretty 'wrathful' (laughs).” The song title alludes to a severe drought that affected the South Western Great Plains region of the United States during the 1930s. The drought brought the arid region to its knees and turned it into a vast dust bowl. Thousands of farm families were forced to flee west and scratch a living anyway they could. Grapes of Wrath focuses on the Joads, a poor family of sharecroppers trapped in the Dust Bowl who set out for California seeking jobs, land and a future. “Dust Bowl Dance” – Mumford & Sons
Frontman Marcus Mumford explained the influence of the Great Depression set classic on the song's chorus in an interview with American Songwriter
Frontman Marcus Mumford explained the influence of the Great
Depression set classic on the song's chorus in an interview with
American Songwriter : Said Mumford: I'd just finished (John
Steinbecks novel) Grapes of Wrath and was feeling pretty 'wrathful'
(laughs). The song title alludes to a severe drought that affected
the South Western Great Plains region of the United States during
the 1930s. The drought brought the arid region to its knees and
turned it into a vast dust bowl. Thousands of farm families were
forced to flee west and scratch a living anyway they could. Grapes
of Wrath focuses on the Joads, a poor family of sharecroppers
trapped in the Dust Bowl who set out for California seeking jobs,
land and a future. Dust Bowl Dance Mumford & Sons
Slide 3
12/3/14
Slide 4
What was the Dust Bowl? As crop prices dropped in the 1920s,
many American farmers left their fields uncultivated A terrible
drought in the Great Plains, beginning in 1932, caused the region
to become a Dust Bowl Dust storms ravaged the region from 1932 to
1939 Many Midwestern & Great Plains farmers lost their farms
https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=guTek7ipD4U
Slide 5
Which states do you think were affected by the Dust Bowl?
Slide 6
Slide 7
Okies People who left their farms were called Okies They
sacrificed everything they could not take with them The number of
unemployed and homeless in California
Slide 8
Okies (Cont.) Okies took any work they could find for very low
wages This created more resentment towards Okies as they had now
lowered wages and taken jobs
Slide 9
Hobo Living The Okies did not escape poverty in California They
often created camps outside of town to live in Homes were made of
abandoned cars or materials they could find Okies and Hobos would
come and either stay or go depending on how friendly the town
was
Slide 10
Hobo Signs Hobos and Okies developed their own signs to tell
one another about a town before they entered These would be found
on trees or fences
Slide 11
Bad Times Roll Tenant farmers, or people who rented land from
someone else, were hit hard too The govt. paid land owners to
reduce crop production in the 1930s, meaning they had to plant less
The landowners would take the money and continue to plant on their
land, while telling the tenant farmer to stop planting, therefore
taking away their way of life
Slide 12
Discrimination Mexican workers faced discrimination in this
time period Many were deported Some of these were actually American
citizens who were denied their rights
Slide 13
Abandoned farm in the Dust Bowl. Coldwater District, near
Dalhart, TexasAbandoned farm in the Dust Bowl. Coldwater District,
near Dalhart, Texas Son of farmer in dust bowl area. Cimarron
County, OklahomaSon of farmer in dust bowl area. Cimarron County,
Oklahoma
Slide 14
Years of DustYears of Dust (painting by Ben Shahn) Farmers
applying for drought relief
Slide 15
Eighteen-year-old mother from Oklahoma, now a California
migrant Migratory workers from Oklahoma washing in a hot spring in
the desert
Slide 16
A drought refugee living in a camp on the bank of an irrigation
ditch Flyer Publicizing a Need for Cotton Pickers
Slide 17
Kismet, Kansas Nov. 3, 1937 Dear Mrs. Rosevelt: I am 13 years
old and will be 14 the 27 of this month. I am a victim of a shut
in. I have been sick ever since the 12 of July. And have a very
lonely place to stay. My parence's are very poor people. I cant
even go to school yet with the other kids. And doubt if I can this
year. I have nothing I can do but set around and I get so lonely I
don't know what to do. And if you want to cheer me up and make me
one of the happies boys in the world just send me some money to get
a cheap raido. Ihave got proof by the neighbors that I am sick and
have nothing to do. My parence names is Mr. + Mrs. A. J. M. My name
is F. M. I live at Kismet. Many, many thanks if you would cheer me
up that way I wouldn't spend it for nothing but a radio. It would
pass my lonely time a way so much faster. I only ask for a cheep
one. F. M. Kismet, Kansas P.S. If I had any thing to do I wouldent
ask you of it. It will be highly appreached. I am in the dust bowl.
We didn't raise any crop this year. And we have to live off of the
releif and theres no injoyment out of that. But were thankful for
it. My mother is sick and under the doctor's care most of the time
and my Grandma that lives with me is very poorly. And that keeps my
heart broken all the time. And nothing to amuse myself with. thanks
alot
Slide 18
Write a Letter, pretending youre A farmer in the Dust Bowl
region A government official who has been sent to investigate
conditions A child who just found out his/her family has decided to
migrate to California Someone living in a migrant labor camp in
California Mrs. Roosevelt writing back to the letter writer above A
gas station owner on Route 66, as the migrants stream past A
California citizen living near the places where the migrants are
arriving Or one of your own ideas!