The Dust Bowl

An Economic and Environmental American Tragedy

Interrupted Ecosystem

• Land before interruption– a sea of grass 2-4 feet tall– little rainfall (20” per year) - up to 10 years of

drought.

The Ecosystem Before Tragedy

• Bison grazed which attracted prairie dogs to short grasses to easily see predators.

• PD’s then build burrows near bison.• Bison clean themselves in the loose dirt of the

burrows.• This creates holes which collect rainfall.

Soil Erosion

• Even in this ideal environment, little rain causes a shortage of grass, bison overgraze, prairie fires occur due to the heat, wind persists spreading both dust and fire.

What did farmers do to contribute to the disaster?

• Moved west in masses during a wet cycle and continued to plow during a 10 year period of drought.

• Burned off stubble after harvest subjecting loose soil to wind erosion.

• Soil in the air created static electricity which destroyed any small amount of growth ……………………………….

• ERA NICKNAME WAS THE “DIRTY THIRTIES”

Consequences• Dust Pneumonia

• Dust in food

• Cars wouldn’t start (static electricity)

• All unable to make a living

• Forced to move -- mostly to the West where there were rumors of farm employment.

• Dust killed animals

Affected Area

On the move

• They traveled the MOTHER ROAD (rt.66) to California.

• Dust Bowlers received fliers requesting farm workers.

Problems of the Journey

• Hygiene = no clean water• No Money = had to work odd jobs

to afford gas to get from to town to town

• Had to cross the desert with all possessions

• Little opportunity to bathe = disease

Washed clothes in ditches along the way!

• They traveled the Mother Road Route 66 to California

• People were forced to camp along the roadside

• Children were without a school or nutritious food to eat

Trouble for “Okies”

• Teachers and school children ridiculed Okie kids

• Many Okie kids went to school barefooted

The US government set up camps in California to accommodate the new

arrivals

• School teachers and students teased “okie” children

• Many kids wore old flour or potato sacks

New Deal solutions to problems• Restoration of pastures (rotational grazing-plant

grass)

• Leave stubble After plowing to hold down soil

• Plow in furrows opposite wind direction to prevent wind erosion

• Plow ACROSS a hill to prevent water erosion

• Strip cropping with hay or sorghum to prevent erosion

• Plant trees alongside fields to stop wind erosion

• PAID FARMERS NOT TO PLANT=HIGHER PRICES!