What were the main causes of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s?

The correct answer identifies severe drought and poor agricultural practices as the main causes of the Dust Bowl, a significant environmental disaster that occurred in the Great Plains of the United States during the 1930s. This event was largely a result of extended periods of low precipitation combined with unsustainable farming techniques.

During the 1920s, farmers in the Great Plains engaged in extensive plowing to plant wheat and other crops, removing much of the native grass that previously held the soil in place. When a severe drought struck in the 1930s, the lack of vegetation left the soil highly vulnerable to wind erosion. The dry, loose topsoil was easily lifted by powerful winds, creating massive dust storms that had devastating effects on both the environment and the farming economy.

While other factors are related to environmental challenges, such as urbanization and climate change, they do not capture the specific conditions that defined the Dust Bowl. The combination of the natural drought conditions and the poor agricultural practices directly led to the severe soil erosion and dust storms that characterized this period, making the identified answer the most accurate representation of the causes.