Dry land farming on the Great Plains led to the systematic destruction of the prairie grasses. In the ranching regions, overgrazing also destroyed large areas of grassland. Gradually, the land was laid bare, and significant environmental damage began to occur. Among the natural elements, the strong winds of the region were particularly devastating.

Question

With the onset of drought in 1930, the overfarmed and overgrazed land began to blow away. Winds whipped across the plains, raising billowing clouds of dust. The sky could darken for days, and even well-sealed homes could have a thick layer of dust on the furniture. In some places, the dust drifted like snow, covering farm buildings and houses. Nineteen states in the heartland of the United States became a vast dust bowl.
From the Library of Congress, "Great Depression and World War II, 1929–1945"
Based on this excerpt, what can you conclude about the 1930s Dust Bowl?
the dust bowl resulted from damage to the great plains landscape.
the dust bowl was a period of economic depression in great plains. the dust bowl caused people in great plains to move away.

Answer 1

Based on the excerpt, the most accurate conclusion is that the dust bowl resulted from damage to the Great Plains landscape. The passage details how dry land farming and overgrazing led to the destruction of prairie grasses, which, combined with a severe drought, caused the soil to erode and create the dust storms that characterized the Dust Bowl. While the Dust Bowl did have significant economic effects and contributed to migration, the primary cause highlighted in this excerpt is the environmental degradation of the landscape.