Proposed Migrant Camps in California for Relocated Dust Bowl Families, 1935

    The map was designed to assist Dust Bowl families in relocating to migrant camps in California.
    Courtesy of Library of Congress, "[Map of California by the Rural Rehabilitation Division showing areas where different crops are grown, proposed location of initial camps for migrants, and routes of migration]," 1935

    Description

    During the Great Depression, a series of droughts combined with non-sustainable agricultural practices led to devastating dust storms, famine, diseases and deaths related to breathing dust. This caused the largest migration in American history.

    Transcript of Proposed Migrant Camps in California Map

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • What would you infer the Rural Rehabilitation Division's job was?
    • Why were migrant camps placed in areas with already established food production?

    Citation Information

    "[Map of California by the Rural Rehabilitation Division showing areas where different crops are grown, proposed location of initial camps for migrants, and routes of migration]," 1935. Courtesy of Library of Congress

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