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The Great Crash Affects Rural America
The great stock market crash of 1929 sent shockwaves throughout the country, reaching America's heartland. Soon after the crash, stock prices of many agricultural goods such as wheat and pork plummeted. Farmers soon struggled to find fair prices to sell their produce, resulting in many having to dispose of their surplus goods. Entire fields of crops were either left to rot or burned until the government established disposal programs. -
The Dust Bowl
During the early 1930’s the Midwest and Southeast plains of America were hit by several severe dust storms. These storms were brought on by the destruction of topsoil due to over excessive plowing. Many farms were destroyed as a result of the dust storm, forcing many farmers to travel to other states in search of work. -
Drought and Destitute
In the face of the economic crisis plaguing America, many farmers had to adapt to make living off of their b hood. However, during the early 1930s, areas in the midwest were hit hard by droughts. The soil became hard and infertile for planting. The USDA attempted to remedy the situation by passing the Taylor Grazing Act, which made unclaimed public land available to settlers. However, this did little to combat the problem.
