The government is a source of help for many people. Sometimes this big government fails. So people start to struggle. But sometimes the government takes control of our lives to help us. Not like a National Socialist takeover of our lives, but a Socialist takeover. However, there are also many different types of ideologies under which the government controls its population. The people of Cannery Row created a socialist atmosphere to replace the government that had failed them. Socialism in America began in Chicago, Illinois on June 15–21, 1897. This ideology was founded at a joint convention of the newly formed Union of American Railroads. This was due to the combination of the two railroad industries, Eugene V. Debs and the Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth (Davenport). This caused a monopoly for the railway industry, which is what a socialist government does. The government takes over industries, without competition, the government controls prices and regulations. It's like Lee Chong's store, he had a monopoly on stores in the town of Cannery Row. Lee Chong controlled the prices of his goods which he sold in town. It didn't matter if something was more expensive than it should be, it was the only store in town with produce, merchandise, and merchandise. Socialism began during the 19th and 20th centuries. “Socialism is a socio-economic belief that emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the distribution of property and wealth” (Socialism:). This explains exactly what Cannery Row does every day. The community, the government of Cannery Row distributes its wealth to help the residents of their town, but not really in the distribution of properties. While the residents of Cannery Row are very poor, they are parents ... middle of paper ... during the Great Depression and after. The people in town who had money were the city government officials. They controlled the city in a socialist environment. This greatly benefited the city, as its residents were a false government of the United States during difficult times. City residents had health care, welfare, and were on the verge of taking out loans with horrible credit histories. Thanks to socialist characteristics, the town of Cannery Row continued without catastrophic problems. Works Cited Davenport, Tim. “Socialist Party (1897-1946): history of the party”. Early American Marxism website. Np, September 19, 2011. Web. December 8, 2011. .Socialism: History of socialism. Dulcinée Media, Inc., 2011. Web. December 8. 2011. .