Out of the Dust

This historical context discussion addresses the connection between the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and points out the impact of both as seen in the novel.

The term “Great Depression” refers to a long-term period of nationwide economic hardship that lasted a decade. One marker of the beginning of the Great Depression is what history nicknamed “Black Tuesday,” October 29, 1929. Although the stock market began to decline after reaching high points in the summer and experienced a less consequential slide on October 24, the market crash on the 29th caused investors to lose billions. The ripple effects snowballed: Banks failed as people panicked and withdrew all their money. Then banks closed, causing customers to lose money the banks still held (bank insurers like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Administration did not exist yet). People became unable or afraid to spend any money, so supply swelled, causing factories to slow production, which led them to lay off workers. Unemployment rose to elevated levels and increased tariffs on imported goods to the US caused other nations to hike tariffs on US exports. Consequently, world trade fell drastically as well, affecting many countries adversely worldwide.