Final answer:
The Great Depression was caused by factors like overproduction of crops, environmental issues like the Dust Bowl, and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The causes of the Great Depression can be attributed to various factors such as farming practices, environmental causes, and economic causes.
- Farming practices: Overproduction of crops was a major factor in causing the Great Depression. Farmers were encouraged to produce more crops to boost profits, but this led to a surplus in the market and plummeting prices.
- Environmental causes: The combination of an eight-year drought and overworked land resulted in the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl caused mass migration of farmers, including those from Oklahoma, to California in search of better opportunities.
- Economic causes: The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act passed by Congress in 1930 worsened the economic situation. Instead of protecting American farmers and manufacturers, it led to retaliatory tariffs and a decrease in world trade, exacerbating the Depression.