The Great Depression occurred from 1929 to 1941. It is a time period that is now called “the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western world”. It brutally affected Chicago, IL. Along with this depression, the stock market crashed and worsened Americans’ confidence. One of the main causes of the Great Depression was how weak the banking system became. Banks gave out loans that were unwise, some to struggling farmers and stock market investors. When the stock market crashed, people could not repay their loans and the bank lost their money. Everything came spiraling down. During 1933, more than 24% of Americans were unemployed. (Stoff 703-705).
Having lived during a recession myself a few years ago does not even compare to the life others had during the Depression in the 1930s and 40s. Wanda Bridgeforth currently lives in the “Black Metropolis”, an area Bronzeville in Chicago, IL. She recalls her experience. She says, “One house we lived in- there were 19 of us in a six-room apartment … [They] told me that this was the way it has to be, we either survive or we don’t.” Bridgeforth’s story was part of the inspiration for Dawn Will Break.
Having lived during a recession myself a few years ago does not even compare to the life others had during the Depression in the 1930s and 40s. Wanda Bridgeforth currently lives in the “Black Metropolis”, an area Bronzeville in Chicago, IL. She recalls her experience. She says, “One house we lived in- there were 19 of us in a six-room apartment … [They] told me that this was the way it has to be, we either survive or we don’t.” Bridgeforth’s story was part of the inspiration for Dawn Will Break.
The other part was my connection to the Kit American Girl Doll Series. From a young age I’ve been fascinated by them. Kit lives in the time of the Depression. I used to spend the summer in my country house sipping lemonade and reading; I didn’t need the beach, I had Kit. Her audacious adventures and her bravery during hard times inspired me and she became one of my heroes.
In this story, I gave Maya Grace some of that bravery and personality that Kit contained. Dawn Will Break tells of her difficult time during the Depression but later shows her techniques for getting through it all, her biggest technique being her family’s companionship.
It’s important for children to learn how vital a loving family is so as they get older, they won’t push them away right as they need them most.
Works Cited
Stoff, Davidson Castillo. The American Nation. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 2002.
“Survivors Of The Great Depression Tell Their Stories.” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97468008. NPR, 2010. Internet. Nov. 12, 2010.
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