The Modern Era

Traditional Gnome Home

Much has changed in recent times, with the Industrial Revolution, world wars, the human civil rights movement, and an increase in social morals and concern for such things as nature. During this time, the role Gnomes play in society has also changed. After the Industrial Revolution, and a shift away from an agrarian society, they were no longer forced to do farm work. Rather, they were made to clean and maintain machinery, as their smaller structure made this easier for them to do than humans, and were sent off to the mines. Many thousands were mangled in machinery, killed in mining explosions, and other accidents during this period of time. Then there were the world wars. Gnomes were used by both sides to pack explosives in WWI, and unfortunately, it is known that some were actually accidentally trapped in these shells. During the Great Depression, Gnomes were sometimes hunted for food, but the worst atrocities happened during WWII. England used them to look for survivors in collapsed buildings as London was bombed by the Nazis, and the US put them to work once more on the production of war materials, but the Nazis used them as fuel. The Gnomes were in part blamed for the failure of Germany in WWI, due to their unproductivity at weapons production. Thus, the Nazis rounded them up from all over Europe, killed them, and used their dried carcasses for fires.

After the war was over, Gnomes once more spread throughout Europe. In some areas, they were re-enslaved, in others they were given sanctuary after it was learned what had happened to them. One such sanctuary is still present today, at Barga City, Italy. The Gnomes also benefited from the human civil rights movement, and the protests of the '60's. Gnomes were still enslaved in many areas of the world. However, in most areas, they could only be put to work in Gardens, and those who own a Gnome were required to keep them healthy, supply them with sufficient food and shelter, and other humanitarian laws. Even more recently, many strong activist groups have sprung up to help the Gnomes, such as the Gnome Liberation Movement and Stop Oppressive Gardening Campaign (for a more complete list, see the Contact page). Most recently, the Gnomes have taken it upon themselves to fight for there own rights, staging protests, starting petitions, and writing letters to political officials. However, it is very difficult for these creatures to accomplish much, as they are not taken seriously. Furthermore, Gnomes are still regularly enslaved in gardens, with many common stores, such as Kmart and Walmart, trading these innocent lives for money.

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Pictures from left to right: Gnome and child working in mine. Look closely at the shell, you will see a Gnome trapped in it. Example of Gnome garden enslavement