3.23 - Capitalism, Dust Bowl and Great Depression

3/23/2020

Thoughts, Questions and Answers...

What are the positives of the capitalistic system?
What religions / ideologies throughout history have shunned individual materialism?
What caused stock markets to crash?
What caused banks to fail? Can this happen again?
What caused the American Dust Bowl?
What is democratic socialism? Who adopted it? Who did not?
How was the construction of the Hoover Dam tied to economic recovery during FDR’s New Deal? How did it help?
What were the causes and effects of the Great Depression?
Big Question: Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy got their nations out of the Great Depression much faster than FDR’s New Deal in America? What really got American out of the Great Depression if not FDR’s New Deal policies?
Big Thought: Compare and contrast the way nations are affected by the Great Depression> Analyze their different responses to the economic destitution. Last part leads to WWII; Germans and Italians vote away Enlightened rights in favor of immediate economic recovery…but at what cost?!
Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath excerpt:
- folks, I would LOVE to talk about this short 1-page chapter

Camile

3/24/2020 04:19:56 pm

The Grapes of Wrath:
I actually find this quite interesting, though it took me a while to understand. I like how it talks about human greed and how it blinds the eye. The essay also takes away the phrase "survival of the fittest" into more of a "together, we can do it". The way the author also repeats himself in some sentences. It's like he' has a "I'm not making a mistake, I know what I'm talking about" kind of vibe.

Sherer

3/24/2020 05:12:49 pm

Awesome. He was definitely a socialist, the causes and the effects! I love his writing style and, you would never believe it, he is one of Bressler's favorite authors too. In fact, it is something Bressler and I often discuss if you can imagine a truly sincere conversation between the two of us. The Grapes of Wrath is an incredible story, but if you don;t have time, there is a pretty famous movie adaption about it too. My favorite book of his is East of Eden, but that is probably better at another time in your lives.

Megan

3/24/2020 06:23:53 pm

The positives of the capitalist system can be summed up in one word, choice. Consumers chose which product was best for their needs which resulted in competition between industries to create the lowest costing, most, and best product possible in order to make a profit. All of this stemmed from demand and the need for efficiency helped to reduce the risk of creating waste. The ancient Chinese look down upon merchants for being scheming and lying they were the bottom of the social class. The stock market crashed because of the period of time after the World War I which was a time of speculation causing people to buy stocks and such which caused inflation of prices. The banks of this time. Failed because of the stock market crash. This can most certainly happen again as seen in modern days with the struggling of the stock market at this unforeseen time. The dust bowl was a product of economic depression. Agricultural workers could not afford to work safely which lead to poor crop seasonings. Also with the earth being introduced to new types of pollution due to the industrial revolution unusually high temperatures were seen followed by an extended drought. Democratic socialism supports political democracy within a socially owned economy. Democratic socialist believe in workers self-management and democratic control of economy. Democratic socialism falls in between communism and social democracy. Democratic socialist believe that workers are to control the means of production however they do believe that socialism should be achieved democratically. The workers approved of democratic socialism because it gave them more power. CEOs of companies most likely were against democratic socialism due to the fact that it gave their workers more power.CEOs of companies most likely were against democratic socialism due to the fact that I gave their workers more power. FDR‘s new deal fundamentally and permanently change the US federal government by expanding its size and scope when looking through the eyes of economy. Do you ever damn project was related to this because it helps to provide jobs and relief to those who were suffering. The great depression was caused by the crashing of the stock market, the banks failing, poor environmental conditions, and reduction of consumer purchases. The great depression caused unemployment rates to rise, homelessness increased, housing prices increased, and it took many years for the stock market to recover. However the great depression also lead to the building of the economy through FDR‘s deals. if not for FDR steals World War II got us out of the Great Depression. Most nations responded to the great depression with defense by raising tariffs on imported goods. Places such as Argentina responded to the depression with military dictatorship while places like Germany and Italy responded with fascism and militarism. Another response scene was totalitarian communism in the Soviet Union and welfare capitalism which can be seen in either Great Britain or Canada.

Megan

3/24/2020 06:28:44 pm

Grapes of Wrath

If I’m being completely honest with myself I read this about three times and still don’t quite get it. From what I understand the repeated phrases such as the emphasis on “we”and “I”the author is calling out American capitalism ports emphasis on individual improvement and as for seeing progress if people start working together and not by them selves. The author is trying to promote a sense of community while also attempting to diminish the American yearn for competition.

bre

3/24/2020 07:44:02 pm

1. Some positives of the capitalistic system include: a variety of different products available, more growth and development through competition, efficiency, and more.
2. An example of a religion/ideology that throughout history has shunned individual materialism is Hinduism; Gandhi strongly stressed and worried about materialism driving people away from their faith and goal in life.
3. The stock market crashed due to stock shares and debt raising with trade/employment rates dropping.
4. Banks failed as factories and farms had a surplus of goods that resulted in loss of money and no income, workers were losing jobs and their income, products and loans weren't need as poverty levels skyrocketed. This can happen again with another Great Depression, banks aren't immune to failing and rely on several factors.
5. The American Dust Bowl was caused from several dust storms that caused a drought and eroded/damaged the land and agriculture of American and Canadian prairies.
6. Democratic socialism the the belief that the government, which would be ran democratically, would transform the relationship between the government and people to benefit the public needs (compared to monopolies and certain groups/individuals).
7. The construction of the Hoover Dam tied to economic recovery during FDR’s New Deal through creating a new infrastructure for the benefit of the public rather than specific organization. It would provide jobs, supply electric power, and more.
8. The causes of the GD were war debts, loans to Europe, widespread use of credit, overproduction, NYSE crash, banks collapse, countries unable to repay American loans, and the loss of American capital. Effects included: unemployment, loss of faith in capitalism and democracy, authoritarian leaders emerge, rise of fascism and Nazism, blaming scapegoats, and the beginning of WW2.

Sherer

3/25/2020 07:27:15 am

Great work! I would like to pose a challenge: are their any religions that HAVE embraced individual materialism, because it seems like most (all?) of them do.

Belen Flores

3/24/2020 10:25:22 pm

Wow.
I like this quote:
"For the quality of owning freezes you forever into “I”, and cuts you off forever from the “we”. "
This is a work of art that shows how blind humans are and greedy and need help identifying the causes and the results. Life should be "we", but the fear of change/results leads into the "self isolation" the "self 'contemplation'". I like how he (she) uses repetition to emphasize the points. And... how instead of seeing the problem as I or as oneself, it should be seen as we, then something would be done. (yes)

Sherer

3/25/2020 07:25:37 am

I remember reading this book again a few years ago on a camping trip in a cabin. I got to this chapter, read it, then just sat it down and went walking. I agree with your Belen. I find that more than any other author he speaks of the collective humanity with such accuracy. I loved his calling into question the causes and the effects.

bre

3/25/2020 12:00:43 pm

Regarding The Grapes of Wrath, it took a few reads to get an ok understanding. But I believe Steinbeck is discussing the capitalistic system during the time of the Great Depression/ World War. The quote, "The last clear definite function of men — muscles aching to work, minds aching to create beyond the single need — this is man," peaked my interest the most. This applies in current time where thousands are put out of work or being quarantined in their homes. People seek to find work and entertainment to keep themselves occupied rather than have time for their thoughts. This quote also supports for man find the need to create and work to fulfill their egos and/or legacies. Through building a wall or dam, you have tangible work that you can say you accomplished and show off. These inventions give man the idea they're superior and hold immediate rights to resources, land, etc.

Sherer

3/25/2020 12:08:07 pm

Nice work Bre, you are very right on. Of course with this current isolation, we ARE afforded the luxury of time to contemplate. Hopw everything is well for you.

3.23 - Capitalism, Dust Bowl and Great Depression

Leave a Reply.