The Dust Bowl exodus was the largest migration in American history. By 1940, 2.5 million people had moved out of the Plains states; of those, 200,000 moved to California .
Where did most Dust Bowl migrants head to?
The exact number of Dust Bowl refugees remains a matter of controversy, but by some estimates, as many as 400,000 migrants headed west to California during the 1930s, according to Christy Gavin and Garth Milam, writing in California State University, Bakersfield's Dust Bowl Migration Archives.
What migrants left the Dust Bowl?
Photo by Robert Hemmig. Although the Dust Bowl included many Great Plains states, the migrants were generically known as “Okies ,” referring to the approximately 20 percent who were from Oklahoma. The migrants represented in Voices from the Dust Bowl came primarily from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Did the Dust Bowl affect California?
The storms, years of drought, and the Great Depression devastated the lives of residents living in those Dust Bowl states. Three hundred thousand of the stricken people packed up their belongings and drove to California. ... The great Dust Bowl migration transformed and reshaped California for years to come.
How many people died in the Dust Bowl?
In total, the Dust Bowl killed around 7,000 people and left 2 million homeless. The heat, drought and dust storms also had a cascade effect on U.S. agriculture. Wheat production fell by 36% and maize production plummeted by 48% during the 1930s.
What caused the Dirty Thirties?
The decade became known as the Dirty Thirties due to a crippling droughtin the Prairies , as well as Canada's dependence on raw material and farm exports. Widespread losses of jobs and savings transformed the country. The Depression triggered the birth of social welfare and the rise of populist political movements.
What stopped the Dust Bowl?
While the dust was greatly reduced thanks to ramped up conservation efforts and sustainable farming practices, the drought was still in full effect in April of 1939. ... In the fall of 1939, rain finally returned in significant amounts to many areas of the Great Plains, signaling the end of the Dust Bowl.
What caused the Dust Bowl in America?
The Dust Bowl was caused by several economic and agricultural factors , including federal land policies, changes in regional weather, farm economics and other cultural factors. After the Civil War, a series of federal land acts coaxed pioneers westward by incentivizing farming in the Great Plains.
Which state lost the most of its population to the Dust Bowl?
In the rural area outside Boise City, Oklahoma , the population dropped 40% with 1,642 small farmers and their families pulling up stakes. The Dust Bowl exodus was the largest migration in American history. By 1940, 2.5 million people had moved out of the Plains states; of those, 200,000 moved to California.
Will the Dust Bowl return?
North America could see a return of the deadly 1936 “Dust Bowl” phenomenon, with intense heatwaves caused by elevated levels of greenhouse gases bringing destruction to the plains states and further afield, according to a new study.
How long did Dust Bowl last?
Results of a Dust Storm, Oklahoma, 1936. Between 1930 and 1940 , the southwestern Great Plains region of the United States suffered a severe drought. Once a semi-arid grassland, the treeless plains became home to thousands of settlers when, in 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act.
What killed people in the Dust Bowl?
In the Dust Bowl, about 7,000 people, men, women and especially small children lost their lives to “ dust pneumonia .” At least 250,000 people fled the Plains.
What dust storm did everyone remember the most?
The Black Sunday Dust Storm of April 14, 1935.
What illnesses were caused by the Dust Bowl?
Those who inhaled the airborne prairie dust suffered coughing spasms, shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis and influenza. Much like miners, Dust Bowl residents exhibited signs of silicosis from breathing in the extremely fine silt particulates, which had high silica content.
What did they eat during the Dust Bowl?
Dust Bowl meals focused on nutrition over taste. They often included milk, potatoes, and canned goods . Some families resorted to eating dandelions or even tumbleweeds.
Who was most affected by the Great Depression?
The Depression hit hardest those nations that were most deeply indebted to the United States , i.e., Germany and Great Britain . In Germany , unemployment rose sharply beginning in late 1929 and by early 1932 it had reached 6 million workers, or 25 percent of the work force.
