The Dust Bowl refers to a series of dust storms that lasted for most of the 1930s on the American and Canadian prairies. The storms caused devastating agricultural damage and severe economic problems. On April 14, 1935, also known as "Black Sunday," twenty severe dust storms blew across the plains to literally block out the sun.
The Cause
During the early 20th century, large numbers of settlers colonized the North American plains and set up farms. The native grasses, which held the soil together and helped to retain its moisture were removed to make room for crops. The native grasses naturally prevented erosion, but after they were removed, a period of drought turned the topsoil to dust, which was easily blown away by the strong prairie winds.
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Dust Bowl Timeline
1931: "Black Blizzards" begin
1932: Fourteen reported storms
1933: Congress adopts the Emergency Banking Act of 1933
1933: The Frazier-Lemke Farm Bankruptcy Act is approved
1935: Worst "Black Blizzard" occurs on April 14th, a day that becomes known as "Black Sunday"
1937: President Roosevelt states, "I See One-Third of The Nation Ill-housed, Ill-clad and Ill-nourished"
1938: Extensive work begins to re-plow and replant shelterbelts
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References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Strong winds caused dust clouds called "Black Blizzards" or "Black Rollers"
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Fact:
Decade is nicknamed the "dirty thirties" due in part to dust bowl storms
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Fact:
100 million acres were affected
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Fact:
Great volumes of soil were carried across the continent and deposited in the Atlantic Ocean
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Fact:
Approximately 300,000 people from Oklahoma migrated because of the storms
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Fact:
More than 500,000 people lost their homes in the storms
