What major ecological disaster struck the U.S. during the 1930s, affecting farmers in the Great Plains?

The Dust Bowl was a significant ecological disaster during the 1930s that had a profound impact on farmers in the Great Plains. This event was characterized by severe drought and poor agricultural practices, which led to soil erosion and the creation of massive dust storms. The combination of these factors devastated crops, reduced agricultural productivity, and caused widespread hardship for farmers in the affected regions.

The Dust Bowl not only resulted in immediate agricultural losses but also had long-term effects on the economy and migration patterns, as many families were forced to abandon their farms in search of better living conditions elsewhere. This phenomenon illustrates the interplay between human actions, such as over-farming and lack of crop rotation, and environmental issues, leading to a large-scale crisis.

The other options represent different historical events: the Great Flood refers to various flooding incidents that have occurred but are not specific to the 1930s in the context of farming, the Hurricane of 1938 affected the northeastern U.S. and is unrelated to the Dust Bowl, and the California Drought pertains to a different geographical region and timeframe, thereby not influencing the Great Plains in the same manner that the Dust Bowl did.