Boom and Bust: Journal 6

One of the most powerful stories I have ever heard occurred in my own family. During the Great Depression, my great-grandfather, Edward, lived in New York. He was a potato farmer. On a walk through the city he noticed how foul the air was. It was a very strong, awful smell, and he decided to see where it was coming from. He followed the stench and came to a door about a block away. He knocked on the door of the house and a woman answered. He asked her what the awful smell was, and she answered, "Sir, we are cooking our dog." Edward looked at her and noticed the small children behind her. He knew these were hard times, but he did not think it was alright for a family to eat their own dog. Edward told the woman and her family to wait; he would get them something better to eat. He ran home and took the supper his wife was cooking and brought it to the family. It was a good meal, one with meat, something even Edward rarely enjoyed. That evening, Edward's family ate thick-n-thop, a meal consisting of potatoes and gravy. 

This story is truly one of self sacrifice. One family helping another in a time of great hunger and need. It is so powerful to think that even though both families were struggling during the Great Depression, one would help the other. How hard would it be for someone to give their only meal of meat a week to another family? How awful was it to eat thick-n-thop for the seventh day straight? After my mom had told me this story, I commented that at least Edward's family had food to eat. She responded that they only had the same potato meal to provide for three meals a day, seven days a week. After a while, thick-n-thop would no longer seem like food. 

Boom and Bust: Journal 5

My life would be greatly changed if something similar to the  Great Depression were to occur today. The location of my home would probably be closer to a nearby city. My mom and dad do work near large cities, and we would have to live close by so they would not have to drive to work and could save money on gas. The size of my home would also be much smaller. I would not have my own bedroom anymore, and we might even be cramped for space. My grandfather would probably not be alive today because we could not afford the costly medical expenses. I would also have to stay home from school and take care of him. This would be the worst to me. I would have such a hard time staying at home and making sure my grandfather does not hurt himself. I would miss going to school and learning, but I would be the only one. My parents would want my brother and sister to stay in school because they are younger than me and do not know how to care for my grandfather. My siblings and I would also have to work. Our jobs would most likely be petty and would bring in only minimal amounts of money. Another thing I would miss would have to be the variety of food my family enjoys. If things got really bad, we may have to survive on soup and bland foods. This would be particularly hard for my brother and I since we love to try and eat all kinds of different food. I don't know how long I could mentally survive on the same exact meal everyday. I would also not see my best friend. While my family would move to the city, she would move to the country with her grandparents because they live on a farm. I would certainly miss my friends. I would have a very hard time surviving the Great Depression if it occurred today. 

Boom and Bust: Journal 4

I chose to conserve the national forests for everyone's benefit. I hope that fifty years from now, Americans will see the benefits of preserving wildlife and national forests. The natural beauty of America lies within its majestic landscape. The coasts, wetlands, mountains, and plains are all so diverse, just like the American people. Americans can live where they choose. They can adapt to cold weather, warm weather, wet climates, and dry climates. Americans can choose to live in any climate, any place. People can adapt to all different places. Certain species of plants and animals can only live in a specific climate. They need to live in specific places in order to survive. We need to protect the animals, plants, and habitats in America. If we do not, what will we have to take pride in? The land represents the people. American soil is a reflection of the American people. The land that we live on represents us in so many ways. It shows our diversity as a nation. It shows that people from all over the United States, from different regions, landscapes, and areas can come together and unite as American people. We are united, and we need to unite and strive to conserve national forests-the same forests that represent who we are as Americans.

Boom and Bust: Journal 3

I think that I would not rely on the company and property to look out for me. It would be a mistake to completely rely on the company and property to supply me with everything I need. The company may seem like a better deal right now, but I would want to take a look at the bigger picture. If the labor agitators were a better way to go, I would most definitely decide to follow them. Although a sense of security and unity may come from the company, this unity and security may fail after a while. If worse comes to worse, the company owners and leaders may choose to only look out for themselves. As a younger worker, I don't think I would be one of the people to get the major benefits that others may receive. I also may eventually lose my job and everything that I entrusted the company to supply. I think that one of the causes of the Great Depression was the reliance on large and very powerful companies. People need to rely on others, and choosing to rely on the big company owners was not wise. The company owners realized how much power they had over people during the Great Depression and used it to their own advantage. People worked for little pay. They endured poor conditions. They worked for food and a place to stay. They forgot about luxuries and expensive items that they wanted or used to own. It is very unlikely that company owers would be able to provide for individual interests. They would most likely be intersted in hard working people who would work long hours for little pay.

Boom and Bust: Journal 2

I think that if I were a worker in a sweatshop, I would be a completely different person. I would not have much respect for people that made more money than me and worked under less intensive conditions. I would most certainly be jealous of people who had laid back jobs or jobs that allowed them to have the freedom to choose when they wanted to work and for how long.
Since I am a teenager, I think that working in a sweatshop would be harder for me than for an adult. First of all, I am not physically capable of doing hard physical tasks such as operating large tools. The labor itself would be too much for me to handle. All of the money I earned would probably go to my family. All of the long, laborious hours that I had endured would probably supply me with little money, most of which would be used to purchase food. My younger brother and sister would also probably be working with me in the sweatshop. Between the three of us, we could probably supply our family with enough money for a day's worth of food. My family would not be covered by medical benefits. My sister and brother may even have lost fingers if we were using sewing machines to make the shirts. I do have experience in sewing, so I think the job would be easier for me than for someone who is inexperienced in sewing. I would not like the idea of working fast to get as many shirts as possible done. This would be both dangerous and I think that the shirts would not be made as well. I like to take my time while I work, so working in a sweatshop would really be hard for me. My home after work would probably not feel safe and secure. I would always be afraid to lose my job. I think that having food to eat would cause me to continue to go to work each day and deal with the poor conditions and low pay.

Boom and Bust: Entry 1

One of the most imported 19 century inventions is the incandescent light bulb. It was invented by Thomas Edison over a hundred years ago, and has greatly impact the was society lives today. Without the light bulb, we would literally be in the dark. We use light bulbs today for so many different purposes. One practical use is to see in the dark. Outside lights enable people to walk or drive safely at night. People can also stay awake longer and continue to work and play at later hours. Outside lights also enable us to watch sports events clearly, even in the dark. After school, children can do homework almost anywhere. The light bulb also makes this possible. I would have a hard time doing my homework if we did not have light available late at night. Light bulbs are also very practical when cooking and cleaning. Lights illuminate the counter spaces when people are handling sharp tools that enable them to cook. While preparing meals, my mother always has a few lights on. If she does not, she usually cuts her finger or burns herself. The light allows the human eye to see everything clearly. Without the light bulb, many people could not work. It would be especially difficult to do hospital procedures, such as surgeries and checkups.

African Americans

African Americans have almost always been subjected to prejudice. When they arrived on slave ships they were sold at the docks, separated and torn from their families. They were treated like animals and livestock on the large plantations where they worked. They were forced to follow the rules of their master, and if they did not, they were set before the whip, beaten, and killed. After the American Civil War, African Americans were given a great opportunity to a new start. Acres of plantation land from the South was given to the freed slaves. They were given livestock, the right to vote, and a chance for a new life. They were declared citizens, as every person born in the United States becomes. They were not treated as equals. They were still seen to some as slaves. They were still beaten and hurt at the hands of violent gangs that preyed the South. The Klu Klux Klan was one of the many organizations formed to "exterminate" African Americans. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans really stood up for what they believed in. They showed the world that what they believed was right. They protested peacefully and sought to bring equality to all races. Caucasian Americans still proceeded to treat African Americans as inferiors. They abused them in public places, drenched them in the streets with fire hoses, and beat them until they had no more breath. The peaceful protests did get African Americans somewhere. Although they were hurt then, their children and grandchildren now have the opportunity to a better life. They are free to be equals, and although there is still racism and prejudice in America, we have learned to live side by side, together as equals.

My grandfather was born in 1912. He has lived through many wars and has seen many events in history. I do not know if he supported or was against the Civil Rights Movement. I will probably never know since he now suffers from dementia. It is so hard to speak with him. It is hard to understand his mumbled sentences, as the words are lost in his breath. He does not even know my name. My grandfather does know that we have an African American president. He remembers his name. I think this is wonderful. My grandfather knows who our president is. It is great to see him know about and be a part of something so great in American history.