During the time of the great depression families fell into poverty. Many men left their families out of frustration or embarrassment. The suicide rate was up to an all-time high. Many people had negative views of the government and were embarrassed to go on government welfare plans.


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When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.

They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,

Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.

Once I built a railroad; now it’s done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;

Once I built a tower, now it’s done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,

Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,

Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,

And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don’t you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.

Why don’t you remember, I’m your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,

Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,

Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don’t you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.

Say, don’t you remember, I’m your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

In this poem, a beggar is speaking to the business that stole his job. The beggar asks why the men who have fought for the country and have helped to build are being abandoned by the government. This poem was written not to depress the people, but to motivate the people to think about the injustices that they are facing.

John Steinbeck was a successful writer during the 1930s. In 1939 he wrote a novel named The Grapes of Wrath. This novel was based on the migration of a family from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California. The Grapes of Wrath brought awareness to the injustices that migrant workers dealt with during the Great Depression.

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This mural was painted by artist Conrad A. Albrizio. This mural shows FDR standing in the center of many migrant workers. On the left side of the mural, you can see men doing jobs that are vigorous and tough. On the left-right of the mural, it shows men and women working jobs that are different from the jobs on the left. Although they are both equally important the right side of the mural is very significant. The men and women working in jobs that migrant workers were less likely to work in, at that time.