What is the context of Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men'?

The historical context of 'Of Mice and Men' centres around the United States of America during the years of the 'Great Depression.' The depression ignited with the Wall Street Crash on the 29th of October 1929; where millions of dollars were lost through the collapse of banks. As a result, thousands of people's savings were lost and the country fell into an economic depression; amazingly, one third of the population went unemployed! In addition to the financial problems the country was facing; the droughts in Texas and the mid-American states caused many migrants to 'head west' to places such as California in search of the 'American dream.' We see the notion of the American dream embedded in George's desire to build a new life for himself and live off 'the fatta the lan'" and on a smaller and more personal level through Lenny's dreams of tending rabbits. The two characters and the ranch as a whole represent a microcosm of the US society as a whole.