The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

Power point created by Robert MartinezPrimary Content Source: Mini-Qs in American History, DBQ Project

On Thursday, April 18,1935, a huge, black, On Thursday, April 18,1935, a huge, black, billowing cloud of dirt piled up on the western billowing cloud of dirt piled up on the western

horizon.horizon.

For Stratford, Texas, and thousands of farms For Stratford, Texas, and thousands of farms and small towns, it was the arrival of another and small towns, it was the arrival of another dust storm, one of more than 300 that would dust storm, one of more than 300 that would

make an unwelcome visit to the Southern Great make an unwelcome visit to the Southern Great Plains during the 1930s.Plains during the 1930s.

For thousands of years the Southern Plains For thousands of years the Southern Plains were covered by prairie grass and home to vast were covered by prairie grass and home to vast

herds of twenty or thirty million buffalo.herds of twenty or thirty million buffalo.

In more recent times, people arrived. First came In more recent times, people arrived. First came the Apache, the Comanche, and the Kiowa.the Apache, the Comanche, and the Kiowa.

Shortly after the Civil War, there came a few Shortly after the Civil War, there came a few thousand cowboys and several million cattle.thousand cowboys and several million cattle.

The first farmers arrive in the 1880s. Word had The first farmers arrive in the 1880s. Word had gotten out back East that the Southern Great gotten out back East that the Southern Great

Plains was good for growing wheat.Plains was good for growing wheat.

Yes, rainfall was a bit spotty, but the land was Yes, rainfall was a bit spotty, but the land was cheaper than farmland in Arkansas or Illinois.cheaper than farmland in Arkansas or Illinois.

With few trees for lumber, many of these early With few trees for lumber, many of these early farmers lived in soddies, houses made of earth farmers lived in soddies, houses made of earth

and grass.and grass.

Soddies – houses made by cutting out “bricks” Soddies – houses made by cutting out “bricks” of prairie sod and stacking them to make walls.of prairie sod and stacking them to make walls.

A severe drought in the 1890s caused some A severe drought in the 1890s caused some farmers to move away, but then the federal farmers to move away, but then the federal

government created new incentives to government created new incentives to homestead. homestead.

A new Enlarged Homestead Act passed in 1909 A new Enlarged Homestead Act passed in 1909 offered 320 acres of land to anyone who could offered 320 acres of land to anyone who could

hang on for three years.hang on for three years.

Thousands of new farm families took up the Thousands of new farm families took up the offer. Wheat would replace cattle as the new offer. Wheat would replace cattle as the new

king of the Southern Plains.king of the Southern Plains.

The railroad sent out branch lines to small The railroad sent out branch lines to small towns, and more wheat could get to market.towns, and more wheat could get to market.

World War I, which brought so much pain to World War I, which brought so much pain to Europe, was good for Plains farmers. A war-Europe, was good for Plains farmers. A war-ravaged Europe purchased Kansas wheat.ravaged Europe purchased Kansas wheat.

With the demand so high, wheat that sold for 93 With the demand so high, wheat that sold for 93 cents a bushel in 1914 was close to $2.50 in 1919. cents a bushel in 1914 was close to $2.50 in 1919.

Even more farmers moved to the area.Even more farmers moved to the area.

But then trouble came. The Great Depression But then trouble came. The Great Depression of the 1930s was only the beginning of troubles of the 1930s was only the beginning of troubles in the region.in the region.

Unemployment back East made it harder to sell Unemployment back East made it harder to sell wheat. Sadly, the Great Depression did not wheat. Sadly, the Great Depression did not

come alone.come alone.

What made life on the Southern Plains almost What made life on the Southern Plains almost unbearable were the dust storms.unbearable were the dust storms.

Decades of poor land-management, crop-Decades of poor land-management, crop-rotations, poor irrigation, fertilization and rotations, poor irrigation, fertilization and periods of drought left the top soil dry and periods of drought left the top soil dry and

barren leaving the soils to the winds.barren leaving the soils to the winds.

In the middle thirties these wind-driven dusters In the middle thirties these wind-driven dusters darkened the midday sky and carried off darkened the midday sky and carried off

millions of tons of precious topsoil as far as millions of tons of precious topsoil as far as Washington D.C. and New York City.Washington D.C. and New York City.

During the 1930s more than three million plains During the 1930s more than three million plains settlers left their farms, some for town, some for settlers left their farms, some for town, some for

a neighboring state, some for California.a neighboring state, some for California.

Many more, stayed put, covering their windows Many more, stayed put, covering their windows with a water-soaked sheet, eating jackrabbit with a water-soaked sheet, eating jackrabbit

stew at a kitchen table where an “eating” cloth stew at a kitchen table where an “eating” cloth covered all the plates and drinking cups.covered all the plates and drinking cups.

Children died from breathing in dust. They call Children died from breathing in dust. They call it “dust pneumonia.”it “dust pneumonia.”