Why do the deputies force the Okies to keep moving?

• A. They fear migrants will carve out land and claim ownership.
• B. They want to keep the moving camp moving to avoid overpopulation in one spot.
• C. They want to promote migrant entrepreneurship.
• D. They fear migrants will bring diseases.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that authorities push the Okies to keep moving to prevent them from settling down and staking a claim to land. In the novel, landowners and those enforcing the law fear that if a migrant camp stays in one place, families could carve out space and declare ownership, upsetting property rights and the social order of the rural area during the Depression. By moving them along, the system maintains control over who camps, where they camp, and how land is used, keeping labor and landowners’ interests aligned with the status quo. The other reasons don’t fit the scene: it’s not about avoiding overpopulation, promoting entrepreneurship, or fearing disease; it’s about preventing squatters and preserving property rights.