What Is The Significance Of The Dust Bowl The Southern Plains In The 1930's

Dust Bowl: The Southern Plains in the 1930’s
Donald Worster’s Dust Bowl: The Southern Plains in the 1930’s was written by a Kansas Native who demonstrates the horrendous plague that destroyed the once prosperous plains in the American West. Worster depicts the primary reasons of the economical and agricultural struggles that generated the ‘Dirty 30’s’.
In the Preface of the book Worster explains his reasoning for writing his book as ‘selfish’, due to the fact that he wrote it for himself in remembrance of the plains where he grew up. He explains the derivation of his information as so, “It is, however, based on not only on extensive library research, but on conversations with farmers, agronomists, and storekeepers;...” (Worster, vii). Worster

The wind erosion that swept thick dust across the plains forced many families to abandon their farms and homes. Worster proceeds to tell the audience about the dangers of the dust that sparked an epidemic of respiratory infections. On April 29th, the Red Cross executed a health conference that went into detail about the health risks that came along with “Black Blizzards”. Hospitals and homes covered cracks in windows and doors with masking tape or wet cloths to trap and keep out dust. Animals like livestock and wildlife were not so lucky. They were unable to defend themselves and most cattle became blind and soon died from dust filled lungs. We are given visuals of the brutality of the death of animals who had no defense. The large amounts of property damage are listed and shown. Worster describes the emotional expense by integrating a quote from Alvis Carlson. He describes sleeping at night “We try to lie still, because every turn stirs dust on the blankets.” (Pg.

By the integration of maps we are able to see and understand what developmental changes were to come. In 1925, when the Santa Fe railroad tracks were laid, oil, real estate and land began to skyrocket. When the economy took a turn for the worse many people had lost their faith. To fight their lose in faith business leaders placed ads into newspapers to try to inspire and encourage people to keep moving forward. Banks in Oklahoma failed, one after another. Agricultural Economist Nils Olsen predicted that the world would overpopulate and not have enough food to sustain the world. This warning encouraged farmers to yield as much as the could. Despite Nils Olsens’ false prognosis the effect it had on a farmers ideology was