What was the dust bowl?
The Dust Bowl is the area in the Midwestern United States that extends from Texas to North Dakota which was made worthless for farming as a result of drought and dust storms during the 1930s. The Dust Bowl lasted for eight years during the 1930s and the drought along with the haze of dust that blew around not only inhibited farming but also made simple tasks like walking outdoors, eating a meal, and even breathing a struggle. In years previous to the Dust Bowl, people migrated from all over the United States to develop the region into a farmer's paradise. The area was flat and perfect for farming and many hoped to profit greatly from it. As the Dust Bowl began in 1931, farming was made impossible and farmers were defeated. Millions of farmers and their families fled the region, looking for jobs elsewhere in the country as they could no longer make a living off of farming. This farming disparity Although most fled the drought-plagued Midwest, many stayed behind. These farmers struggled greatly to provide and survive in the region, but many were successful through these times of despair.
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Surviving The Dust Bowl
The video in the link below tells the story of the many farmers that came to the Southern Plains with dreams of prosperity and success in farming. Rather than thriving in and profiting from farming they lived through almost ten years of drought experiencing massive dust clouds, disease, and often times death