Dust Bowl

Definition

The Dust Bowl was an environmental disaster that took place in the Midwest during the 1930s. Severe drought conditions coupled with poor farming practices led to soil erosion resulting in dust storms that stripped away topsoil.

Related terms

Great Depression: The severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States.

Soil Conservation: Various practices used to prevent soil erosion, maintain fertility, and improve the soil's condition.

New Deal: A series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939.