American Scandal
The Dust Bowl | The Land of Opportunity | 1
Oct 24, 2023
The podcast explores the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl in the southern Great Plains, discussing federal policies, over-farming, and fraudulent tactics used by land salesmen. It follows the story of a determined farmer trying to overcome the drought and tap into groundwater for irrigation. The surge in agricultural production and the rise of businessmen exploiting the land for profit are also explored. The podcast highlights the stock market crash of 1929, its economic collapse, and the ecological crisis that arose from the abandonment of land.
36:09
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Quick takeaways
- The dust bowl in the southern Great Plains was caused by reckless expansion, over-farming, and federal policy encouraging settlement in unsuitable areas.
- Advancements in mechanized farming and false promises from speculators contributed to the ecological disaster of the dust bowl.
Deep dives
The Plague of the Dust
During the 1930s, the southern Great Plains experienced an ecological disaster known as the dust bowl. Windstorms carrying clouds of dirt devastated the region and caused widespread health issues. The crisis was attributed to reckless expansion, over-farming, and federal policy encouraging settlement in unsuitable areas.
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