The Dust Bowl Destroys Lives The Great Depression

● In the early 1930 s, a drought hit the Great Plains and lasted for several years. ● Even before then, the overgrazing of livestock and the over-plowing of fields had damaged the land by destroying the natural gases whose roots anchored the soil.

Winds picked up dirt from the dry, exposed fields. During dust storms, noon turned into night as walls of dust filled the air and hid the sun.

Dust damaged farms across a 150, 000 square-mile region called the Dust Bowl, which covered parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Effect # 1: Migration With their crops buried under layers of dirt, ruined farmers loaded their belongings onto trucks and set off with their families to find work. Many drove west on Route 66, the main highway to California and other Pacific Coast states to look for work. Since many had come from Oklahoma, they were sometimes called “Okies. ” https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v= Av. KJ 9 f. K 99 YU

Effect #2: Government Intervention President FDR’s New Deal agency, the Civilian Conservation Corps, planted trees to break the wind, hold water in the soil, and hold the soil in place.

1) What farming practices made the 1930 s drought worse?

2) In your own words, what was the Dust Bowl?

3) What were two different responses taken in reaction to the Dust Bowl?

4) What does this image depict? How can you tell? (Be specific)

1) What farming practices made the 1930 s drought worse? Allowing livestock to overgraze Over-plowing fields

2) In your own words, what was the Dust Bowl? The Dust Bowl was a damaging dust storm caused by poor farming techniques, a drought, and powerful winds that affected areas of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. In the 1930 s, this storm destroyed many people’s farms lands, which caused many to migrate to California looking for work.

3) What were two different responses taken in reaction to the Dust Bowl? 1)Farmer- Migrate to California or another Pacific Coast state to look for work 2)Government- The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted trees