Conclusion

In conclusion, the Dust Bowl was characterized by huge storms of dust often known as “Black Blizzards'' that would sweep across the plains. These storms would be miles high and could block out the sun for hours and sometimes even days. The Dust storms would bury farm animals and equipment in huge piles of dust and in their wake would come huge swarms of grasshoppers and jackrabbits. These mile-high storms were caused by a combination of many different things, not the least of which was the drought and over-farming. Before the 1930s the rain had fallen steadily and with the increase in the demand and prices of wheat farmers took to tearing up the plains' natural grasses like crazy to plant more crops and make more profit. But when the drought came and the crops withered, there was nothing to hold the dried-up soil down, so the wind blew it easily off the plains, resulting in over 850,000,000 tons of topsoil being blown off the plains in one year alone. The Dust Bowl had lasting health impacts on those who lived in the plains during the time. Dust Pneumonia as it was called was not uncommon nor was Silicosis. Infants, children, and the elderly were particularly at risk for these health effects. During the Dust Bowl, many farm animals got sold oftentimes to the government in hopes of avoiding bankruptcy and foreclosure. The dust bowl caused many families to pack up what little belongings they had and travel route 66 out to California in hopes of work and a better life. These families did not find this better life, instead, they found thousands of others just liked them, hungry, poor, and because of the large migration into California unable to find a job to support their families. These Okies as they were called were not well received but he native Californians and were forced to live in makeshift camps of cardboard and other scrap parts hoping to find a job that would pay them enough to buy food for that week. These camps were unsanitary; they didn't have floors, electricity, or plumbing. More still directed to stay in their home and on their farms. These families lived through large storms of dust that would coat their homes, beds, and tables in a coat of dust that had to be swept out each morning. Families slept with wet cloths over their faces and many townspeople tried original and out-of-the-box solutions to get rid of the plaques of jackrabbits and to try to get the rain to fall. The government also worked to find a solution to the dust bowl. During the 1930s the government enacted many new laws, started implementing new farming and agricultural techniques, educated farmers on how to protect the land, and started many new agencies to deal with the Dust Bowl such as the Soil Conservation Service. One project the government started was the Shelterbelt project which aimed at planting native trees on the plains in hopes that they would hold the soil in place and help “break” the wind. During this time the government also built camps in California for the dust bowl migrating sand prevented banks from foreclosing on farmers. While the government spent millions of dollars to address the problems their solutions worked as by 1938 the amount of soil being blown off the plains had been reduced by 65%. Even after the Dust Bowl ended in 1939, the economic impacts continued. The Dust Bowl devastated the economy of the midwest and prolonged the Great Depression. While the Dust Bowl ended in 1939 it serves as a lasting reminder that we need to take care of the land we are given. It is there for us to use but we must not abuse it. President Franklin Roosevelt once said, “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” and it still holds true today.