01:01 - 05:55
4m 54s
The Dust Bowl during the 1930s was a time that tested American tenacity and resilience. It was the time when one of the greatest man-made American catastrophes caused the migration of countless families because the 10-year drought had rendered the area inhabitable. This clip illustrates the factors that contributed to the Dust Bowl.
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People who lived during the Dust Bowl describe what their life was like. They talk about how intense the wind and dust was, and what they would do to survive during that time.
Following the Dust Bowl catastrophe, greater amounts of land became dedicated to wheat production and local inhabitants believed the Dust Bowl was behind them. However, in the 1950s, symptoms of a relapse were looming. Luckily, many farmers used Howard Finnell's conservation practices; therefore, the catastrophe was averted.
02:32
Colonel Shaw commends Private Trip on his fighting yesterday. He offers to honor the Private by allowing him to bear the regimental colors. Private Trip indicates that he is not fighting for the Colonel and expresses concern that, even after the war, he and his people will not benefit if they win.
03:59
The group of women sing about the amazing American life and the opportunities that it offers, while the men take a pessimistic view on America.
In this scene, the native Powhatan fight the Jamestown settlers. In reality, the Anglo-Powhatan Wars were fought between these parties for a number of years. The clip also illustrates how the European settlers denigrated the Native Americans' beliefs.