The Great Depression
How long did the Great Depression last?
Over a decade
What crop did farmers mainly plant in the Great Plains that led to the Dust Bowl?
Wheat
Powerful dust storms were sometimes called:
Black Blizzards
Explain Herbert Hoover vs. FDR's approach to the Great Depression
Herbert Hoover: did little, thought it would work itself out
FDR: supported government intervention through his "New Deal"
This is the term for when a recession lasts more than 9 months
Economic Depression
If a borrower fails to make payments on a debt, then they could have their personal property:
Repossessed
What weather phenomenon played a role in causing the Dust Bowl?
Drought
A grown person could be thrown backwards in a dust storm by:
The static electricity
Social Security's purpose is to:
Provide stipends/pensions for the elderly and retired
This is the term for the slowdown of the economy
Recession
If a borrower fails to make payments on debt, their homes could be:
Foreclosed
What process destroyed the natural sod and grass that protected the earth?
Tilling
This was the name of the worst day of the Dust Bowl on April 25, 1935
Black Sunday
Explain how FDR gained support to become elected:
Also, everyone hated Hoover.
Banks did not want to foreclose on properties because:
It was hard to find a buyer for the properties
What is a "Hooverville" and where does the name originate?
They are homeless camps during the Great Depression.
The name comes from President Hoover, to blame him for the depression
How did WWI contribute to causing the Dust Bowl?
Increased demand for wheat, more tilling and destruction of natural grass
How did the Dust Bowl affect the east coast and California?
Many citizens from the Great Plains migrated there.
The east coast also received a small amount of dust.
Explain how Roosevelt's New Deal policies improved the way of life for citizens in the Great Depression AND citizens of today (2026)
Provided jobs, helped with loans, recovered the economy, helped end Great Depression
New Deal policies have prevented another "Great Depression" and we use many of the WPA projects today
How did Hoovervilles and soup kitchens influence the next presidential election?
Images were used to remind people of the situation that Hoover put them in
What tariff did Herbert Hoover pass and what effect did it have?
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
Caused higher prices and loss of trade with foreign nations
What government action caused many Americans to migrate to the Great Plains?
The Homestead Act and Enlarged Homestead Act
Why was Black Sunday such a catastrophic dust storm?
Winds rolled in from Canada, collected dust as wind traveled south. The morning was beautiful in the prairie, and the storm struck with no warning giving little time to prepare.
What are the Three R's of Roosevelt's New Deal? Explain what they are supposed to do
Relief for the unemployed
Recovery of the economy
Reform of the financial system
List 3 states affected by the Dust Bowl
Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado