Question

How was the Homestead Act of 1862 partially responsible for the Dust Bowl?

Answer 1

The homestead act of 1862 was partially responsible for the dust bowl because it gave 160 acres to any adult citizen as long as it was cultivated for 5 years, after 5 years of the 160 acres being cultivated they would give them the land.

Answer 2

• The Homestead Act of 1862 granted everyone permission to have charge of the government land up to 160 acres each for the purpose of farming.

• This led young, new and inexperienced farmers to perform futile agricultural activities that resulted in the rise of the Dust Bowl.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed the individual settlers to carry out agricultural activities on lands up to 160 acres each.

• The settlers conventionally believed in the idea of 'rain follows the plow'.

• Tremendous agricultural activity with negligible or no rain at all loosened the soil in the region making it vulnerable to flow with the raging winds in the region causing dust storms to occur.

• Thus, the southern plains region later started being addressed as the Dust Bowl.