Dust Bowl Causes and Response

Overview

This lecture covers the causes, impact, and response to the Dust Bowl drought and dust storms in the Great Plains during the 1930s.

The Great Plains was initially considered unsuitable for farming due to lack of trees and water.
After the Civil War, settlers moved in, wrongly believing "rain will follow the plow."
Farming technology from 1900-1930 allowed for rapid expansion of farmland.
Land under cultivation doubled between 1900-1920 and tripled from 1925-1930.
Farmers used methods that depleted soil nutrients and increased erosion risk.
Plowing removed native grasses that stabilized the soil and retained moisture.

A severe drought began in 1930 and lasted nearly the entire decade.
Drought primarily struck Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, western Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Over a million acres were affected, forming the "Dust Bowl."
Drought reduced precipitation by 15-25% in the 1930s, with some areas getting as little as 15 inches of rain per year.
Without rain and grass, topsoil became dust and blew away, causing massive dust storms known as "black blizzards."
Dust storms reached as far as Washington D.C.

The Civilian Conservation Corps planted over 200 million trees to reduce wind and stabilize soil.
Farmers learned and implemented soil conservation techniques: crop rotation, contour plowing, and terracing.
Government paid farmers to adopt conservation methods (one dollar per acre).
By decade's end, blowing dust was reduced by 65%.
In some areas, up to 75% of topsoil was lost, requiring years for recovery.

Dust Bowl — Region in the Great Plains severely affected by drought and dust storms in the 1930s.
Black blizzards — Massive dust storms caused by eroded topsoil during the Dust Bowl.
Soil conservation — Techniques to prevent soil erosion, including crop rotation, contour plowing, and terracing.