The History Fact

The Dust Bowl

                                      By Collette

 

The drought of the Great Depression began on the East Coast in 1930, but didn’t start on the Great Plains until 1934. Farmers had been urged by the government to plow up the grasslands in order to grow more crops to export to war ravaged Europe during and following WWI. The removal of the native grasses, overgrazing by livestock, poor farming practices, lack of rain and thin soils created a disaster. When strong winds blew, the dirt gathered into great clouds, darkened the skies and deposited tons of dust elsewhere. More than 150,000 square miles of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas were affected. Nearly 60% of the population packed up and left the region. The area was named the Dust Bowl by a reporter following Black Sunday, the worst dust storm of the era.

Government intervention, rainfall and improved farming methods brought an end to the Dust Bowl. Rotation of crops, contour plowing, strip farming and the planting of shelter belts improved and protected soils from erosion. Although droughts occur every 25 years in parts of the region, nothing can compare with the “dirty thirties” and the effect it had on agricultural families.

The following sources provide more information.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features
http://www.history.com/topics/dust-bowl
http://thegreatdepressioncauses.com/dust-bowl
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/lange