History Brief: the Dust Bowl

Summary

The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was a devastating period of drought and dust storms across the Great Plains. Over-farming, along with the absence of natural grasses, left the soil vulnerable to erosion. As a result, millions of acres of farmland were destroyed, and dust storms, called 'black blizzards,' reached as far as Washington D.C. Despite the severe drought, efforts like tree planting and soil conservation techniques helped reduce the damage. By the end of the 1930s, the region had lost nearly 75% of its topsoil, and full recovery took years.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Dust Bowl was a severe period of drought and dust storms throughout the 1930s, affecting the Great Plains region of North America.
• 😀 The area was originally deemed unsuitable for agriculture by early explorers, earning the nickname 'The Great American Desert' due to its lack of trees and water.
• 😀 Farmers began settling the region after the Civil War, believing the myth that 'rain will follow the plow,' despite the area's harsh conditions.
• 😀 Advances in farming technology, including mechanized plowing and combines, increased the amount of cultivated land in the 1900s, contributing to environmental degradation.
• 😀 From 1900 to 1920, the amount of farmland in the Great Plains doubled, and between 1925-1930, the amount of cultivated land tripled.
• 😀 The widespread plowing of land eliminated natural grasses, which held soil in place and maintained moisture, increasing the risk of erosion.
• 😀 In 1930, a severe drought struck the region, lasting for nearly a decade, with areas receiving 15-25% less precipitation than usual.
• 😀 The Dust Bowl primarily affected the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, western Kansas, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico, covering over a million acres.
• 😀 Dust storms, known as 'black blizzards,' became a major phenomenon, sometimes reaching as far east as Washington D.C., as the topsoil blew away.
• 😀 Efforts to combat the Dust Bowl included planting over 200 million trees, implementing soil conservation techniques, and paying farmers to practice conservation, which eventually reduced blowing dust by 65%.
• 😀 By the end of the 1930s, rainfall returned to normal levels, but the region suffered significant soil loss, with some areas losing up to 75% of their topsoil.

Q & A

What caused the Dust Bowl to occur in the 1930s?

The Dust Bowl was primarily caused by a combination of severe drought and poor farming practices. The drought lasted nearly the entire decade, and farming methods like excessive plowing removed the natural grasses that held the soil in place, which led to increased erosion.

How did early explorers view the Great Plains region?

Early explorers to the Great Plains described the area as unsuitable for agriculture, calling it 'The Great American Desert' due to the lack of trees and water, which made it unattractive for settlement.

What farming belief led settlers to cultivate the Great Plains?

Farmers settled the Great Plains under the mistaken belief that 'rain will follow the plow.' This belief led to large-scale cultivation of the land, even though the region was not ideal for agriculture.

How did farming technology impact the expansion of farmland in the early 20th century?

Farming technology, such as mechanized plowing, better tractors, and combines, allowed farmers to greatly expand farmland in the Great Plains. The amount of cultivated land doubled from 1900 to 1920 and tripled from 1925 to 1930.

What farming practices contributed to the Dust Bowl?

Farmers' practices, including excessive plowing, removed the natural grasses that kept the soil intact. This made the soil more susceptible to erosion, which worsened the effects of the drought.

What areas were most affected by the Dust Bowl?

The regions most affected by the Dust Bowl were the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, western Kansas, and large portions of Colorado and New Mexico.

How severe was the drought during the Dust Bowl?

The drought during the Dust Bowl lasted almost the entire decade of the 1930s. The region received 15-25% less precipitation than normal, which worsened the conditions of the already dry area.

What were 'black blizzards'?

'Black blizzards' were the massive dust storms that occurred during the Dust Bowl. These storms were so severe that the dust they generated reached as far east as Washington D.C.

What efforts were made to combat the Dust Bowl during the 1930s?

The government and organizations like the Civilian Conservation Corps planted over 200 million trees to block wind and hold the soil in place. Additionally, farmers were taught soil conservation techniques such as crop rotation, contour plowing, and terracing.

What was the impact of the Dust Bowl on the topsoil in the affected regions?

By the end of the 1930s, nearly 75% of the topsoil had been blown away in some areas, severely impacting the land's fertility and making recovery difficult.