Great Depression Research : Chapters 1-10, Letter A

 Dust storms greatly damaged the Great Plains and many people deserted their homes. The Dust Bowl wiped out all their crops causing poverty and starvation. Nothing was ever more devastating than the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl tore families apart and everyone had a hard time making a living with whatever they had left. Dirt was everywhere as the winds blew and the skies darkened. This connects with the story because Joad returns to his home in Chapter 4. On his way home after prison, he plays with and draws
on the dirt on the ground. However, once he makes it home, he finds his home abandoned because of the drought and dust storms. Droughts were a widespread problem and not much could be saved. Many families from Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas decided to flee westward in hopes of finding labor. They needed to find a living and they thought California would be the best fit for labor, since it was not as dry as Oklahoma/Kansas. In Chapter 5, it talks about the struggles of an American family during this time period. They lost their job as farmers and their homes were slowly being destroyed by people who took orders from the bank. They needed the money for their family and the idea of "one man for themselves" was greatly emphasized. Others had to wear ragged clothing and eat whatever they could find. They knew the only way out was to move west but they did not have a whole lot of money. The struggle was real for everyone during the Dust Bowl.

Pictures:
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s


Sources:
Dust Bowl During the Great Depression
About the Dust Bowl