History 240; Prompt

History 240; Prompt

Why it DIDN’T work in the 1930s
When the United States entered World War I, key labor leaders promised not to interrupt the nation’s defense production with strikes
Great Depression
Brought a wave of unemployed workers to California in search of new jobs
Grapes of Wrath, Joad family came to California to find jobs, but found that the dream was in reality false
As the Depression worsened, the workers’ wages were cut even more and more people were being laid off
Wages dropped from $3.50 to $1.95
Farmworkers walked out of the fields, refused to work
Started strikes
Strikes were led by CAWIU (Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union), their leaders included communists and progressive workers
The wave of strikes brought wages back up, but the Employers weren’t going down that easily
The Farmers Association, controlled by the biggest farm corporations, came up with anti-picketing legislation in many California counties and pressured courts and police to arrest CAWIU leaders under the charge of criminal syndicalism (union organizing)
Communism
Socialist movement trying to gain leadership inside the working class movement during the depression
The communist party played decisive roles in the labor movements of the 1930s
Helped the farmworkers out, made efforts in attempting to organize California Farmworkers
They breathed new life into the strikes, but they also exposed themselves to employers planning a counter-attack
Mexican strikers were threatened with arrest and deportation and were given false promises of free land if they “voluntarily” returned to Mexica
Employers had great power in taking down the strike because they had full cooperation from the government and other authorities
Wizard of Oz
Critique of populism, little man will never get ahead because of the standards the government has put into place
It also failed due to the lack of initial planning and organization

Why it DID work in the 1960s
Had a clear leader that led...

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