The Dust Bowl

US HISTORY- Ms.SouleKristine Ragan

1930s

Why did the dust storm happen?oDeep plowing of the

virgin top soil for four generations of farmers.

oExtended drought

oWithout topsoil the ground turned to sand.

oHigh winds

Where was the dust bowl?

The dust bowl impacted a section of the Great Plains of the U.S. that extended over Oklahoma, Kansas, southeastern

Colorado, Texas, and northeastern New Mexico.

What was the effect on families during the Dust Bowl?

Farming was no longer a possibility .

Cattle and other farm animals did not survive the dust storm.

No money, no work, and no food had become a problem!

Thousands of families lost their homes due to the impact of the

dust storms.

Families packed up and migrated West looking

for jobs and to start over.

But many found that life was not easy in the

West . Families built homes out of scraps or

lived in tents.