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California Perspectives on American History
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Picture about the Great Okie migration by Romain Lukusa and Ethan Cipreo

In the 1930's, during the Great Depression, a huge dust storm ravaged the states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. This dust storm had been called "The dust bowl". The causes of the dust Bowl is a drought which drained the soil of this land which became dusty.The strong winds that were blowing hard there blown away the dust from the ground leading to a dust Storm.
The dust covered everything, the fields, the houses... So, it became impossible to raise crops on this dust covered land. It caused the farmers to loose their jobs.
The farmers had to leave their land and moove to a better place: it is "The great Okie migration".
The california seemed to be the best place for that.
They began a huge migration to California mostly on Route 66. They went by foot or by car with their remainings belongings. They went to California because, since the gold rush, California is seen as a place where wealth is made. It is the symbol of american dream.
A lot of artist described this migration in their work like John Steinbeck with his novel "the grapes of Wrath" or the photographer Dorothea Langue. She is very famous for her photos which bring about emotions. Her photos exposed the very harsh conditions where the migrants lived.

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Migrant family travelling by foot on highway

Oklahoma, 1938
Photo by Dorothea Langue

This family is migrating because of the drought and the Dust Bowl that has happened in their land.

Farmer and his son walking in the face of the Dust Bowl

Cinamarron county, Oklahoma, 1936
Photo by Arthur Rothstein

Children waiting for soup

These children are waiting for soup because they have no money to buy food.

Migrant farmers

Most of the migrants became fruits pickers after arriving in California.

Migrant child in a camp

This migrant girl lives in a migrant camp. We can see that her house is made of tents and scrap.

Migrant family in their old car

This migrant family mooved from their land with their car. Now they're looking for a job.

Migrant boy

Yakima, Washington, 1939
Photo by Dorothea Lange
This child is sad because he has nothing to do.
He is a migrant and live in harsh conditions.

Men looking for jobs

Those two men are looking for a job after their migration due to Great Depression.

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