American History Tellers The Great Depression - Dust | 4
15 snips
Mar 13, 2019 The podcast explores the devastating dust storms during the Great Depression and the challenges faced by farmers. A dramatic turning point occurred when a dust storm descended upon a Congressional hearing. It also discusses the migration of farmers to California in search of better opportunities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Devastating Dust Storm Impact
- A devastating dust storm in 1934 buried farms and suffocated livestock, signaling the harsh reality of the Dust Bowl.
- Farmers realized their land was no longer viable and contemplated leaving for places like California or Arizona.
Causes of Dust Bowl Disaster
- The Dust Bowl was caused by a decade-long drought and poor farming practices like replacing deep-rooted grasses with crops and over-plowing.
- These practices stripped nutrients and loosened soil, causing massive dust storms that spread over thousands of square miles.
Hugh Bennett's Early Warning
- Soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett identified erosion as a national menace years before the Dust Bowl crisis.
- He combined field research and political savvy to push for federal soil conservation efforts starting in the 1930s.