The+Weed+Patch+Camp

= = = At the Weed Patch Camp, the Joads are finally treated with some respect and humanity. The Weed patch Camp is run by other Okies, so they understand how hard the Joad's life has been up until now. The Camp is also where the Joad family is reunited with Jim Casey, who tells the family "We tried to camp together, an' they druv us like pigs." This quote shows how the big businesses are scared of the people banding together and forming a strike in order to gain better wages. The police drove the strikers apart, and the police were controlled by the businesses at that time. =

= = = Why do you think the businesses were so afraid of peaceful strikes? =

= = = The Weed Patch Camp is made up of other Okies, and it is here that the Joads find a working community. The elected leaders, known as "The Committee" pass out judgements and rules for life in the small town. Despite the fact that the Committee has complete power over the day to day actions of the town, no one seems to be angry about it. "I'm the chair.... we change ever' week." The leader of the community changes, in order to maintain the unity of the town. By limiting the power of the leaders, the town becomes more close-knit and family like. =

= = = Why are the refugees so willing to accept someone being in control of them? =

= = = The migrant farmers are not the only ones that can unite to fight an enemy. The Big Businesses unite to form "The Association", a collective of business owners that control the police and the people of a town. "Those men were sent by the Association"; sent to destroy Hooverville and drive off the Okies. The ability to unite is not only limited to the common man. It is frequently used by businesses to form trusts and gain greater control over an industry. = = = = = = = = Do you think that, given enough time, the migrant workers could have abolished these trusts? =