The dust bowl years spanned 1930-1936, when a million acres of farmland across the plains became unusable due to severe drought and over-farming. when dust bowl conditions devastated farmers, many defaulted on their bank loans, which lead to the widespread bank failure. franklin d. roosevelt called for restoration in america with a promise that there are better days ahead. adapted from: what is the best definition you can infer for the word "defaulted" from the excerpt above? failed to balance their checkbooks failed to finish an appointed contest failed to pay financial debts failed to do something required by law