Lecture Notes: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927

Introduction

• Mississippi River: a vast river system covering nearly half of the United States.
• Can be both an asset and a liability, particularly during floods.

The 1927 Flood

• Occurred in spring 1927 due to a torrent of rain.
• Resulted in the greatest flood in American history, causing severe damage and affecting nearly a million people.
• Exposed racial and social inequalities, as black sharecroppers were exploited.

Key Events

April 21, 1927

• Epic storm hits the Mississippi Delta.
• Main channel of the river rises more than nine feet above flood stage.
• Hundreds of black laborers attempt to reinforce a levee at Mound Landing, Mississippi.
• Levee collapses, creating a 25-foot wall of water.
• Hundreds drown, massive water pours out, doubling the flow of Niagara Falls.

Flood Conditions

• Flood conditions had been developing since August 1926.
• Rainfall was 200% above normal, leading to record floods across the Mississippi River Basin.
• Five major storms in spring 1927 sent more water into the Mississippi.
• Levees were the only protection for residents, but many were already overwhelmed.

Social and Racial Impacts

• The flood revealed deep racial and economic divides.
• Many cotton farmers were poor sharecroppers.
• Black sharecroppers were exploited and forced to work on levees.
• Platters manipulated black labor, sometimes with armed Boy Scouts overseeing them.

Greenville, Mississippi

• April 21st, levee at Mound Landing collapses.
• Greenville is submerged under 10 feet of water.
• Residents, both black and white, seek refuge, some are rescued, but many cannot escape.
• Wealthy white planters prevent black sharecroppers from being evacuated.

Government and Relief Efforts

• President Calvin Coolidge appoints Herbert Hoover to oversee relief efforts.
• Rescue operations involve Coast Guard and Navy.
• Black sharecroppers are forced to provide free labor in relief camps.
• Camps reflect racial segregation and exploitation.

New Orleans and Political Impacts

• New Orleans leaders dynamite a levee to divert floodwaters, impacting poorer white communities.
• The city later refused to pay promised reparations.
• The flood shifted political allegiances, particularly among African Americans.
• Led to legislation for improved flood management and control.

Long-term Effects

• Inspired the 1928 Flood Control Act.
• Changes in flood management policy, including reservoirs and spillways, were implemented.
• Highlighted the need for federal government involvement in disaster relief.

Conclusion

• The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was a significant event that highlighted environmental, social, racial, and political issues in the United States.