To Kill A Mocking Bird Activity by Hianna

What was The Crash (reference in Ch. 2)?

2014-10-05 15:16:45 UTC

The “Crash” or the “Great Depression” was an economic crises that affected the entire United States. This lead to a slow in the economic growth and caused the un-employment rates to rise. Poverty was common at this time as not a lot of jobs were available. One of the hardest groups hit, were the farmers. The “crash” caused food prices to drop and made it harder for exporting goods and products. Farmers had a hard time finding ways to make profit and money. They were often forced off their land and had their tools and equipment taken away by the government. Foreclosures of their houses and land was very common. During this time, massive droughts were also happening, which added to the devastation of farming across America.

-Joe

Great Depression in the southern U.S.A.: What was it like to live at the time this novel is set?

tkam — 2014-10-05 15:23:48 UTC

The novel was set a few or a couple of years after the great depression. I can assume that everyone was still in the process of recovering. I guess the mood or the atmosphere of living at this time must have been really depressing and miserable. The children might have also been really impacted. The years after the depression, the children had to help out on their family farms. This meant that the children couldn't go to school or have a social life with other kids in the neighborhood. Family was an important value for everyone. It was a higher priority than going to school, church, or anything else. The African Americans at this time faced discrimination. They were used as farm workers on the larger farmers, or house-maids. I can infer that life for them wasn’t very easy or pleasant. Like not getting the chance to go to school or have an opportunity to excel in society. The quality of life for mostly everyone was bad. They had dirty living conditions and were on the edge of poverty. Most of the people living at this time had lost hope and the determination to continue. Only the extremely wealthy would be the ones whobarely faced any impact from the great depression.

-Joe

Harper Lee

tkam — 2014-10-05 19:53:13 UTC

Nelle Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mocking bird, was born in Monroeville, Alabama on April 28, 1926. She is the youngest of 5 children. Her first name, Nelle, is her grandmother's name backwards. The novel took place in a place called Maycomb, Alabama. Instead of using Monroeville as the setting, Harper Lee made up the name Maycomb. Her father is also a lawyer, just like Atticus Finch in the story. On page 5, it states "His first two clients were the last two persons hanged in the Maycomb County Jail." Harper Lee's father once had two clients accused of murder, but were hanged. On wikipedia, it says Harper was a tomboy, and in the book, Scout was a tomboy also. Harper also had a best friend, Truman Capote, who was her neighbour and schoolmate. We can say that Atticus Finch was based on her father, Scout was based on herself, Jem was based on one of her siblings, and Dill was based on her childhood friend, Truman.

-Haley

tkam — 2014-10-07 02:08:17 UTC

Alabama in the American Civil War

tkam — 2014-10-07 02:11:30 UTC

The state provided a significant source of troops and leaders, military material, supplies, food, horses and mules. Very little of the state's cotton crop could be sold, as the main port of Mobile was closed off by the U.S. Navy.

- Eunice

Black Tuesday/ Dark Times

tkam — 2014-10-07 02:48:18 UTC

Unemployment during the Great Depression climbed to double digit levels and remained that way for close to 10 years. 'Black Tuesday' is named after the day the stock market crashed. As a result, trade levels plummeted, as well as personal income.

- Eunice

The women of the Alabama Unionists

tkam — 2014-10-07 03:07:03 UTC

They cut back on purchases, brought out old spinning wheels and enlarged their gardens with peas and peanuts to provide clothing and food. Many people like the women unionist were inspired to help and do something to make things easier.

- Eunice

Nelle Harper Lee

tkam — 2014-10-07 17:03:07 UTC

Nelle Harper Lee mostly known as Harper Lee, was born in April 28, 1926 at Monroeville, Alabama. The youngest out of five children of Amasa Coleman and Frances Cunningham Finch. Back in the past Lee was a tomboy, and even back then an advanced reader. She is the legend author of the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". Since publication of To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee has had no interests in fame as she granted almost no requests for interviews or public appearances. Long story short the story revolves around a life almost similar or parallel to her experiences. She can completely say 100% of the story is a fact based in a true story.

-Hianna