1. Surviving the Depression

2. Surviving the Depression
New Deal programs helped some but not most
Most made ends meet best they could

3. Surviving the Depression
Drought and Dust Bowl
During the 1930’s states from Texas to North Dakota suffered a severe drought.

4. Surviving the Depression
Drought and Dust Bowl
Top soil dried out
High winds carried the soil away in blinding dust storms.
Much of the Great Plains area became known as the Dust Bowl

5. Surviving the Depression
Drought and Dust Bowl
These dust storms called Black Blizzards buried farmhouses and forced drivers to utilize headlights for daytime driving

6. Surviving the Depression
Drought and Dust Bowl
People put shutters over doors with little help
Dust blew in houses
When food was chewed it crunched

7. Surviving the Depression
Drought and Dust Bowl
One storm blew dust from Oklahoma to Albany, NY

8. Surviving the Depression
Cause of the Dust Bowl
Over grazing by cattle and plowing by farmers destroyed grasslands that held the soil in place. High winds carried the soil away.

9. Surviving the Depression
Okies and Arkies
Since the drought hurt many farmers in Oklahoma and Arkansas they packed their bags and moved west in cars and trucks.