Dust Bowl In America

The Great Depression put a dark cloud and an oppressive strain on America during the 1930s. As the ground began drying up, lacking resources and water, low agricultural levels and lower economy spikes lead to the downfall. As the sales and demand decline so did the stock market (McElvaine, 150). There was a decline in prices making little profit, and even at these low prices the people of America simply, could just not afford it. A large aspect of the Great Depression came dust bowls (Seelye). They ruined the environment for many farmers in Oklahoma, Kansas, and other midwest states(Seelye). People felt that as the ground started drying up so did the people and their community (Seelye). The dust bowls dried up their ground at the people’s
spirits by taking away the only income they collect. It references the shape the dust took as it scooped up debris and grounds causing a bowl like shape (Seelye). The shape engulfed the people and the cities they loved. As times grew darker, people relied on migrant workers to fill the dangerous and dirty jobs. They are also put in very dangerous situations like fires, explosions, and debris falling because of their dirty and laborious jobs Carson and Bonk). Salinas, California is a vital resource to farmers; it’s a valley that supplies people with fertile crops. Although the land is being supplied with rivers and freshwater, soon that resource will run out or will be dried up (Fresh Express Inc). The Great Depression discouraged the people of America caused by the stock market to falling, the dust bowls surrounding fertile fields, migrant workers risking their lives, and overusing our best farmland, Salinas Valley. The Great Depression affected so many people in America, disregarding social class, race, or gender. The Great Depression occurred from 1929 to 1933. The U.S. economy lost two-thirds of its value (Carson and Bonk). The United States was immensely derailed by the depression that spread across our nation, it caused a stop to advancement, since no work could be continued. This was the biggest depression of American history leading to costs to plummet (Carson and Bonk). We also lost resources as farmers began throwing away products that went bad, wasting pounds of food (Carson and Bonk). After farmers not being able to sell their old, rotted crops, they began losing hundreds of dollars of revenue. Farmers began cutting off their products to city markets making very little income (Carson and Bonk). With little access to consumers, no one could buy or sell. Servant jobs were mostly occupied by blacks. When the great depression left thousands of people out of work, whites began taking the servant work (McElvaine, 301). Many minorities were left without out work, as privileged whites took the very few jobs that were offered (McElvaine, 311). The Great Depression not only affected whites from the MidWest, it affected minorities, all races, and both genders, sending America spiraling for answers.
The dust bowls were another factor, that added to the downfall of America’s economy.
The dust bowls occurred in the 1930s, and ruined the farms of many farmers leaving them with nothing (Seelye). As dust and debris swept farmland in America, crops began dying. It references the shape the dust took as it scooped up debris and grounds causing a bowl like shape (Seelye). Citizens felt that as the ground lost it’s will, so did the people of America (Seelye). People lost hope as years of melancholy and poverty surrounded their lives and families. The constant farming, overuse of the land, and the dragging of dust across people’s farmlands stressed the health of the crops. The dust bowls ruined crops and agriculture in these states ruining their economy (Seelye). Their farming was their major profit, without this income their economy fell and so did the families that ran these farms (Seelye). The U.S. lost so much, after not being able to rely on the farmers for income, causing communities to become dull and
lifeless.
Migrant workers would take any work whether it was dangerous or low paying.
Migrant workers are laborers that move around to jobs for anyone work that needs to be done (Carson and Bonk). People were so desperate to get a chance to provide for their family. They would usually work temporary jobs and move around according to what job they were assigned to (Carson and Bonk). When they had to move it was because of their following of any commission they could collect, if they had a family, they would have to pick up their life and bring it on the road. Mostly immigrants took these jobs because they’re very difficult and labor induced work (Carson and Bonk). They only got small opportunities for work, since they were just coming to America. The life of a migrant worker was at times extremely difficult. Migrant workers take hard undesirable work, which improves the economy, yet the work is labor induced and extremely difficult (Carson and Bonk). They are also put in very dangerous situations like fires, explosions, and debris falling because of their dirty and laborious jobs which leads to critical injuries, and they couldn’t afford medical care(Carson and Bonk). Many workers risked their lives, doing any level of work for a paycheck. They constantly have to move around to accommodate the different jobs around the country or region where work is wanted (Carson and Bonk). The life of a migrant worker is filled with constant change and the dangers of getting hurt. These migrant
workers would do anything for a salary, so they could feed their families.
Salinas Valley played a large role in The Great Depression by providing fertile soil for farmers, yet the region was overused. The land is pumped and dried up from the constant drainage of water from the ground and is being constantly used for its fertile grounds (Fresh Express Inc.). The Salinas Valley was a region constantly plucked and planted, as people began abusing the only resource they had. The Valley has an ideal climate for farming (Fresh Express Inc.). Salinas is in the sunny state of California, producing beautiful crops. Since it’s located near mountains it allows a cascading river for irrigation to support the crops (Fresh Express Inc.). Farmers relied on this one region to support their income. Although the land had been supplied with rivers and freshwater, soon their one resource will run out or become dried up (Fresh Express Inc.). They only have a few able farmlands, and they will soon become arid. The climate produces a great surplus of well grown crops to allow fresh produce to families (Fresh Express Inc.). This one positive aspect kept their crops growing and fighting against the drought. Since it’s located near mountains it is fed by a river and protected by the mountains (Fresh Express Inc.). The mountains were also a large drawback, because it made it difficult to bring out products to urban markets. The land is also one small region creating an overused and dried up land(Fresh Express Inc.). Farmers were relying on this one piece of land to produce any crops they could.
The U.S. had lost an extremely large amount of its value. There was a decline in sales and profits, and even at these low prices the people of America simply, could just not afford it. A large aspect of the Great Depression came dust bowls as it brought ruined crops (Seelye). The dust bowls sweeped across the land, ruining the only able and fertile farmland families had. Migrant workers moved around states and cities risking their lives for a paycheck to support their family leaving their families unstable and unsupported. It was a vital resource to farmers that became overused and dried up, just like the surrounding communities spirit’s. The Great Depression put all of the American nation into despair as they lost hope in the American Dream. The Great Depression put a dismal stop to America’s bright future by the stock market falling, the dust bowls surrounding fertile fields, migrant workers risking their lives, and overusing our best resource to produce crops, Salinas Valley.