Dust Bowl exodus

Definition

The Dust Bowl exodus refers to the mass migration of farmers and their families from the Great Plains region (primarily Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas) during the 1930s. Severe drought coupled with poor farming practices led to dust storms that devastated agricultural crops and forced people to leave their homes in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

Related terms

Great Depression: A severe worldwide economic depression that lasted throughout most of the 1930s.

New Deal: A series of programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the effects of the Great Depression, including recovery efforts for farmers affected by the Dust Bowl.

Soil erosion: The process by which soil is worn away or displaced, typically due to wind or water, often resulting from unsustainable farming practices.