The Dust Bowl
Devastation during the 30's
What was the Dust Bowl?
The Dust Bowl was the name given to the Great Plains region that was devastated by drought in the 1930's.
How did the Dust Bowl happen?
The Dust Bowl was an environmental disaster. It was caused by an unstable time of drought. It changed the perspective of farming forever.
How did the Dust Bowl affect farmers?
The Dust Bowl ruined many farmers lives. Their crops were ruined by the massive dust clouds. There was very little rain, so not many crops would grow. There were harsh winds, which picked up top soil. This made giant dust clouds called "black blizzards". Thousands of farmers lost their homes due to crops not growing. These farmers had no crops to sell therefore they could not make any money so they couldn't pay mortgage.
Effects on Migrant Workers
A seven year drought came in 1931 followed by dust storms in 1932. Most farms dried up creating what is called "The Dust Bowl". The drought and dust storms caused thousands of farmers to lose their homes because they could not farm because the drought was so bad that they can't farm because the plants couldn't get any water so they had to make the difficult journey to California to find work.
WWI Effects
WWI drove a demand for wheat. In 1931 the rain stopped and the "black blizzard" began.