Why did people migrate? during the dust bowl?

During the Dust Bowl, which was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the US and Canadian prairies during the 1930s, people migrated primarily for economic and environmental reasons.

1. Environmental Disaster: A combination of drought and poor land management practices led to the soil becoming loose and dry. As the winds picked up, they created huge dust storms that blotted out the sun and made it impossible to farm. The lack of vegetation caused by the dust storms also meant that there were few windbreaks to slow down the erosion process, exacerbating the problem.

2. Economic Hardship: The environmental effects of the Dust Bowl were accompanied by economic hardship, especially for farmers. Crops were destroyed, which meant that there was no produce to sell. Consequently, many farmers were unable to make mortgage payments and lost their farms to foreclosure. The failure of banks also led to loss of savings for some households.

3. Health Issues: The dust storms created serious health problems for many people. The dust was so pervasive that it got into homes and lungs, causing "dust pneumonia" and other respiratory issues.

4. The Search for Work: With crops failing and local economies devastated, people were forced to leave their homes in search of employment. Many heard of agricultural opportunities in California, especially in the fruit and vegetable industries, which were not as affected by the Dust Bowl.

5. Government Assistance Programs: During this time, the government also created assistance programs to help displaced farmers and their families. The New Deal, initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aimed to provide economic relief and jobs. However, the dire conditions meant that many were still compelled to migrate for survival.

As a result, approximately 2.5 million people moved out of the Plains states; of those, an estimated 200,000 moved to California. These migrants, also known as "Okies" (a term that originally referred to people from Oklahoma, but came to include anyone from the Dust Bowl region), often faced tough conditions and discrimination in the places they relocated to as well.