1. “The Dust Bowl”

2. What do you already know?
What is “The Dust Bowl”?
What is a migrant worker?
How were migrant workers affected by “The Dust Bowl”?

3. About “The Dust Bowl”
1930s
Massive dust storms formed in parts of Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and northern Texas.

4. Causes of Dust Storms The Great Depression
Over-plowed and over-grazed fields
Years of sustained drought
Windstorms blew soil into the air
Dust clouds formed

5. Black Sunday- April 14, 1935
"...a great black bank rolled in out of the northeast, and in a twinkling when it struck Liberal, plunged everything into inky blackness, worse than that on any midnight, when there is at least some starlight and outlines of objects can be seen. When the storm struck it was impossible to see one's hand before his face even two inches away. And it was several minutes before any trace of daylight whatsoever returned." Liberal News, 15 April 1935

6. Effects of Dust Storms
Approximately 100 million acres of farmland was damaged
Farmers had to abandon their farms
Store owners abandoned their businesses
More than 500,000 families were left homeless
Loss of human life

7. Migrant Workers and “The Dust Bowl”
Migrant worker- A person who moves from place to place seeking work
During the time of “The Dust Bowl,” thousands of farmers migrated west towards California to try to find jobs.

8. Why California? Mild climate allowed for longer growing season
Crop diversity
Fruits
Cotton
Others
Glamorization of California in popular culture

9. Problems Arise… Many migrants were turned away at California’s borders
1936- “Bum Blockade”
Too many migrants and not enough jobs available
Insufficient wages
Insufficient housing
“Ditch bank” camps

10. Problems Arise… (Cont.)
Friction between migrants and California farmers
Migrant workers were often subjected to:
Negative stereotyping
Okies
Arkies
Migrants were forced to travel across California at the beginning of each harvest

11. “Dust Bowl” in 2012?