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Congress passed the Homestead Act which encouraged Western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of public land. In exchange, homesteaders paid a small filling fee and were required to complete 5 years of continuous residence before receiving full ownership of the land.
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When people migrated west due to the Homestead Act, framers over-farmed and over-grazed the land during a decade long drought. This set the seen for the Dust Bowl.
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In 1932, there was 14 dust storms reported.
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In 1933, there was 38 reported dust storms.
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The Black Blizzard was one of the worst dust storms during the Dust Bowl.
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The drought affected 27 states and more then 75% of the country. (75% of the country was rainless).
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"Suddenly there appeared on the northern horizon a black blizzard, moving toward them; there was no sound, no wind, nothing but an immense 'boogery' cloud." -Donald Worster.
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The Soil Conservation Act of 1935 was passed to control floods, prevent destruction of reservoirs and maintain the rivers and harbors, protect public health and public lands, and relieve unemployment.
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During 1935, for 27 days and nights the wind blew. This was the longest stretch of wind during the Dust Bowl.
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The Government paid farmers $1 an acre for practicing the new conservational farming methods.
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The conservation efforts reduced the blowing soil by 65% by planting 200 million trees from Canada to Texas to break the wind and hold water in the ground.
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Rain returned in 1939 to end the decade long drought and end the horrors of the Dust Bowl.
