GEOG 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Homestead Acts, Land Management, World War I
Document Summary
Describe and analyze the social and environmental crisis of the 1930"s dust bowl" in the southern us plains region. Consider the role of agricultural expansion and demand in a capitalist economy. Examine the changing role of the state in managing agriculture and society. Refers to the long term drought in 1930"s. Periodic event made worse by agricultural pracices and the condiions of setlement. Us homestead act(1862;1909: 160 acre grants condiional on improvement, habitaion(5 years) and iling fee, 1909: 320 acre grants available. Market demand drives expansion: rising grain prices in 1910"s, wheat prices increase 2 imes over course of wwi, in 1919, 38% more wheat was grown than annual average from 1909-1913, new techniques of plowing. Condiions were good for wheat growing in 1918-1920s. 1920s: a weakening internaional market i agricultural goods. 1929: changes in the economy generally signal problems for agriculture.
