US History from 1877

US History from 1877

As you read “Little Heathens” by Mildred Armstrong Kalish have these questions in mind and jot down notes to go back to as a reference to answer the following questions. Some of these questions are purely anecdotal and opinion based others require an understanding of the material and the time frame. Please respond to these four questions in a 3-4 page paper, with standard font and text size, double spaced, and page numbers. If you use quotes be sure to include page numbers.

Discuss the economic realities that defined the Great Depression. What factors determined who would manage to get by and who, like some families described, would lose their farms altogether? What attitudes toward money was Kalish taught to develop? Did Kalish’s memoir enhance your understanding of the Great Depression? What differences existed between farmers and city dwellers who lived through it?

What was your reaction to Kalish’s discussion of food preparation featured in the book–from regulating the stove temperature to slaughtering–and cleaning–the main course? What were the benefits and shortcomings of such a labor-intensive use of fresh ingredients, and of life without supermarkets? Did any aspects of Kalish’s Depression-era cuisine surprise you?

The rural electrification bill was not passed until Roosevelt’s presidency, how did it shape a community to live at the mercy of the seasons, without electricity or indoor plumbing? What was Kalish’s relationship with the natural world like? What is gained and lost in a world that favors technology over manual labor?

Could you and/or your family endure the way of life described in the book? Why do you think you could or could not endure that lifestyle? What modern conveniences would be missed?