What were the main causes of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s?

The main causes of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s were poor agricultural practices, drought, and high winds.

During this period, farmers in the Great Plains adopted intensive farming techniques, which included deep plowing and monocropping. These practices led to the removal of protective grasses that held the soil in place, making the land highly susceptible to erosion. When a severe drought struck in the early 1930s, the lack of moisture compounded the problem, leading to the reduction of crop yields and further destabilizing the soil.

Additionally, high winds swept across the exposed land, lifting large amounts of dust into the air and creating massive dust storms that devastated the region. This confluence of factors caused widespread agricultural devastation, harming the livelihoods of farmers and prompting significant migration as people sought better living conditions elsewhere.

In contrast, other choices include elements that do not accurately reflect the causes of the Dust Bowl, such as industrialization and increased rainfall. The Dust Bowl was predominantly a result of human practices and environmental factors specific to the region during that time.