The Dust Bowl The Exodus of the Plaines

Farmers and their Boom time Farming profits were at an all time high in the 1920s Farming profits were at an all time high in the 1920s Farmers had great growing seasons throughout the 1920s Farmers had great growing seasons throughout the 1920s Govt paid farmers to not grow crops, but they continued to grow Govt paid farmers to not grow crops, but they continued to grow Farmers, to make more $ farmed all their sections depleting the nutrients in the ground Farmers, to make more $ farmed all their sections depleting the nutrients in the ground Their fields could not re-generate Their fields could not re-generate

Farmers and their Boom time Due to heavy farming the top soil was turned into a fine dust Due to heavy farming the top soil was turned into a fine dust In the region of the Great Plaines, there were no tree lines that acted as windbreaks In the region of the Great Plaines, there were no tree lines that acted as windbreaks The top soil was blown away during large wind storms throughout the region The top soil was blown away during large wind storms throughout the region Many farms went bankrupt Many farms went bankrupt

The Dust Bowl

The Great Migration Many farm families packed up their world and headed to Oregon and California Many farm families packed up their world and headed to Oregon and California Hardest hit farms were in Kansas & Oklahoma Hardest hit farms were in Kansas & Oklahoma Okies begin to migrate under signs saying Oregon or Bust Okies begin to migrate under signs saying Oregon or Bust Dorothea Lange captured the images that identified this huge migration Dorothea Lange captured the images that identified this huge migration California and Oregon felt the largest population increase since the Gold Rush of 1849 California and Oregon felt the largest population increase since the Gold Rush of 1849 Approx 70K people relocated Approx 70K people relocated