Question

What were the social impacts of the dust bowl^

Answer 1

The Dust Bowl devastated many farmers and forced a large number to migrate to where work could be found. Shanty towns were built up by these modern day "nomads" who lost everything and couldn't find work because of the jobs that were already filled. Living out of their cars, on their feet, or inside wooden shacks became a way of life for many of these refugees.

For the people already living in areas untouched by the Dust Bowl's environmental effects, not many were enthusiastic to see these "newcomers" arrive and compete for jobs and living space overnight. The crushing agricultural failure of the Dust Bowl also hit an economy already weakened by the Great Depression.

And while students today wish for snow to close schools, in areas affected by the Dust Bowl, schools were also closed on account of dust storms.