Nothing But Dust

What was the Dust Bowl? How did it happen and how did it affect life for so many people living in and outside of the area? The drought that caused the Dust Bowl is a huge event that occurred during the Great Depression.

In the video below you will see how the Dust Bowl of the Great Plains and Midwest area affected so many people. Imagine if you lived during that time what it would be like and how hard life would be.

The Dust Bowl

Have you heard of the Dust Bowl? It took place during the Great Depression in the 1930's.
Many Americans who were new to farming were plowing up the native grassland to grow wheat since there was a high demand for it.
Then in 1931, there was a huge drought so nothing could grow.
Since the native grasses were no longer on the ground, the exposed dirt began to blow away.
The dust storms were terrible and made it hard to breathe.
Dust would come into your home and cover everything.
Farmers could not grow food and were out of business.
Families lost their farms, homes, livestock, health or lives,
and more. It was a devastating time. By 1939, 3.5 million people had left the Great Plains, searching for a new place to live and work.
Most traveled West and took anything they could with them. Many ended up in California.
Eight years after the Dust Bowl began, the drought finally ended and the rain came.
Most farmers from the Great Plains stayed in their new homes. The damaged lands lost a great deal of top soil and it took generations for farms to be successful in these areas again.
The Dust Bowl is a key factor in our nation's Great Depression.