In the film Alaska Far Away, what initially motivated the colonists to leave Minnesota and come to the Matanuska Colony? It was because of the great depression they had thought that moving to the Matsu would offer better opportunities during the great depression. The colonists who were selected were chosen very specifically by the government. Some of the specific things they were looking at were couples between the ages of 25-35, Farmers, An Average Size Family with children, Etc. They all would come during the Great Depression after hearing they were making a colony in the Matsu. A lot of people who were chosen to go went there with the idea that they hit the jackpot where they would have flat land and homes and food and supplies to build…show more content… There were no supplies, no food, there was nothing. But even being disappointed with what they showed up to, they knew they had to start building their new homes and had to start building them fast because winter was right around the corner. In order to get the supplies that were needed to build their new homes, they had to reach out to the government and the government wouldn’t give it to them for free. The government would lend it to them, but charge them and they would have the next 30 years to pay it all back. As the days started getting shorter and the weather started changing, winter was just around the corner. And when the first snowfall fell, not even half of the colonist's homes were built. When building the homes they started using green tree wood which would shrink in dramatic weather and temperature changes so some of the houses by winter time weren’t warm enough or stable enough to stand the winter. The cost of food was a big struggle for the colonists. The cost of the portion of food they were given was not worth it. So they tried growing and producing crops, but with the weather and the lack of supplies, it was quite difficult in the
