Madison Sayre

History MajorCollege of Arts and Sciences

THE DUST BOWL1934-1941

Introduction of the Dust BowlDescription Two Major Causes

The Effect of the Dust BowlShort Term EffectsLarge Term Effects

A Historical Analysis of the Dust Bowl

OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION

WHAT WAS THE

DUST BOWL

?A Drought that

occurred between the years of 1934

and 1941, accompanied by

dust storms

DUSTERS

“A windstorm kicked up dust…the weather bureau people didn’t know what to make of it or how to define it. Wasn’t a sandstorm…And it wasn’t a hailstorm, though it certainly brought with it a dark, threatening sky…it rolled like a mobile hill of crud, and it was black. When it tumbled through, it carried static electricity, enough to short out a car. And it hurt, like a swipe of coarse sandpaper on the face. The first black duster was a curiosity.”

Largest Duster200 miles wide

Moved North to SouthThe Temperature in Denver dropped 25°F within an hour

Utter DarknessCouldn’t use lamps

No shelterPeople believed it was the end of the world

April 14, 1935

BLACK SUNDAY

National Drought Covered 2/3 of the country Two of the driest years on

record- 1934 and 1936NASA’s Model

Lower than normal Pacific Ocean temperatures

Higher than normal Atlantic Ocean Temperatures

Weakened Jet Stream travelled farther South than normal

MAJOR CAUSES OF THE DUST BOWLFACTOR #1: WEATHER

Farming Practices Stripped Land of all

nutrients Continued to till over and

over Exhausted the former

grass lands

The Shear Number of Farmers The “Bread Basket” acted

as a safety valve

MAJOR CAUSES OF THE DUST BOWL

FACTOR #2: HUMANS

SHORT TERM

EFFECTS

Dust

Pneumonia

Poverty Failed Crops Dying Livestock

Depression

SHORT TERM EFFECTS

LONG TERM EFFECTS

More Dust PneumoniaInability to plantGhost TownsEnvironmental Realization

Hugh Bennett- head of the Soil Erosion Service Saved the land by having the Civilian Conservation

Corporation plant grass More conscious farming methods

No Till Farming still exists in areas today Alternating fields

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS The Individuals in the lower class

were most effected by the dust bowl and saw FDR as their only beacon of

hope, but he couldn’t do it alone

1. “Suitcase Farmers” could bare the first bad crop2. Franklin Roosevelt’s “Common Man” Speech

• Opportunity brings equality • An Enlightened Administrator would re-

establish foreign markets and maintain resources

3. The personification of this “Enlightened Administrator” was so complex, that he needed others• i.e. Bennett

SUMMARY

The Dust Bowl existed due to:Extreme Weather ConditionsHuman Actions

There were both short and long term effects of the Dust Bowl

It effected poor people most and FDR had a great impact

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/dustbowl.htm

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/drought/images/dustbowlfollett.jpg

http://capita.wustl.edu/namaerosol/Dust%20Bowl%20map_fi les/dbmapfinal.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0319dustbowl.html

http://www.weather.com/news/dust-bowl-20120718?pageno=6

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/photo-gallery/dustbowl/

WORKS CITED