Lesson 5:The Trapp Family Singers

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The Great Depression The Great Depression is the worldwide economic collapse that began in 1929 and did not end until 1940. It was the longest and worst economic crisis ever experienced by industrialized countries. It began with the 1929 stock market crash in the United States. Businesses closed and banks failed, resulting in many people losing their entire life’s savings. The value of money itself decreased, and the demand for goods declined. But the Great Depression was not limited to the United States alone. The very structure of world trade collapsed, causing the value of money in other countries to decline. Europe was hit particularly hard, and millions of people there were also left unemployed. Unemployment in Europe Country 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 Austria 225,000 239,000 304,000 417,000 456,000 Belgium 28,000 42,000 207,000 350,000 383,000 Germany 2,484,000 3,041,000 4,744,000 6,034,000 5,599,000 Sweden 44,000 42,000 73,000 99,000 121,000 United Kingdom 1,204,000 1,694,000 2,666,000 2,660,000 2,821,000 This chart shows the number of people without jobs in several European countries during the Great Depression. Which nation had the greatest number of unemployed citizens? 9
All that changed in the mid-1930s. Much of the world, including the United States, was in the midst of the Great Depression. Businesses and banks closed, and millions upon millions of men and women were out of work. Families struggled to pay the rent and to put food on the table. When the National Bank of Austria failed, Captain von Trapp lost most of his wealth. The family had to find new ways to make ends meet. Maria suggested they turn the family into a group of professional singers. Georg worried about the children becoming performers, but he reluctantly agreed. Father Wasner, a priest and family friend, became their conductor. In 1936, the Trapp Family Chorus won a competition at the Salzburg Music Festival. Soon afterwards, they were invited to perform throughout Europe. Escape from the Nazis Shortly after their new career began, the Trapp family came into conflict with a rising political power in Europe. The German people had elected Adolf Hitler as chancellor. As head of the Nazi Party, Hitler The Austrian flag began to rule as a dictator and promised to return Germany to its previous power and glory. As part of his plan, Hitler decided to take control of Germany’s neighboring countries. He led troops into Austria in 1938. The Nazis took over the government and arrested many 10
Page 1 and 2: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents The Trapp Family
Page 5 and 6: Over the next ten years, Agathe and
Page 7 and 8: 1936: Trapp Family wins first place
Page 9: two years preparing to become a nun
Page 13 and 14: Georg von Trapp refused all these h
Page 15 and 16: Life in America Like many immigrant
Page 17 and 18: The Trapp Family Singers continued
Page 19 and 20: Finally, there was one aspect of th
Page 21 and 22: TARGET VOCABULARY aptly aspect cred

Lesson 5:The Trapp Family Singers

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