The Seattle Hooverville covered nine acres of land on the tidal flats adjacent to the Port of Seattle. The Depression was blamed on President Herbert Hoover, after whom the town was named after, as coined by Charles Michelson. Exhibt A: Map of Number and Distribution of Shacks (March 5, 1941) The Great Depression saw the collapse of the United States' economy, rampant unemployment and a broad sense of hopelessness. Desperate for shelter, homeless citizens built shantytowns in and around cities across the nation. They were named after Herbert Hoover, who was the President of the United States during the start of the Great Depression and was given the blame for it. This site uses cookies to improve your experience. A Tarpaper Carthage: Interpreting Hooverville. The nickname 'Hooverville' was given to the shanty towns that sprang up across the nation during the Great Depression. Hooverville was a small town founded by homeless people in the United States during the Great Depression. Hoover Pullmans were rusted railroad boxcars used as dwellings. A request from the city was that women and children would not be allowed to live in the shantytown. Today the nine acre site is used to unload container ships. Hoover's other problem was his own personality. The majority of the homeless chose to live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens. Democratic National Committee publicity director and longtime newspaper reporter Charles Michelson is credited with coining the term, which first appeared in print in 1930. [9], Regardless of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a common ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities. A survey located 1687 shacks in five substantial colonies and many smaller ones. In turn, a new lexicon came into being -- words like "Hoovervilles," "Hoover blankets" and "Hoover hogs." When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. months[6] = "Uncover a wealth of facts and information on a variety of subjects produced by the Siteseen network. About this quiz: All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at The Great Depression - Hoovervilles . All Rights Reserved. Many people would can their food so that it would last longer. The photograph dates from about 1932 to 1937. Life for the Average Family During the Great Depression. The homeless clustered in shanty towns close to free soup kitchens. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). Unit densities soared in the early 1930s. New York City saw the emergence of many Hoovervilles during the 1930s: During the Great Depression of the 1930s author John Steinbeck wrote "The Grapes of Wrath" about the lives of the people living in the Prairies states and the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl. WATCH: America: The Story of Us on HISTORY Vault. He explained that the population was fluid, as men sold their shacks to newcomers and moved on, and at its maximum during the winter months when it reached as hight as 1,200. Technically, these settlements were often in violation of state or local law; and even though they were often raided, it became common practice for authorities to endure them. Excerpt from Health Department Annual Report (1935) Cardboard covering a worn-out shoe sole was 'Hoover leather,' and cars pulled by horses (since no one could afford gasoline) were 'Hoover wagons.'. In the summer of 1931 a group of Seattle residents organized to establish self-help enterprises and demand that government officials create jobs and increase relief assistance to unemployed. By the early 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War II, many Hoovervilles had fewer residents and most were torn down. Petition for community bath houses in Hooverville (May 15, 1935) Soup Kitchens in the Great Depression | Bread Lines, Characteristics & History, Gilded Age Politics: Political Machines & Civil Service Reform, Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 | Overview, Summary & History, Massacre at Wounded Knee | Summary & History, AP US History Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, AP English Literature Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, DSST A History of the Vietnam War: Study Guide & Test Prep, DSST The Civil War & Reconstruction: Study Guide & Test Prep, Glencoe U.S. History - The American Vision: Online Textbook Help, High School US History Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Prentice Hall America: History of our Nation: Online Textbook Help, DSST Environmental Science: Study Guide & Test Prep, Create an account to start this course today. St. Louis, Missouri, and Seattle, Washington, were home to two of the countrys largest and longest-standing Hoovervilles. Hoovervilles lacked the services found in typical towns. President Herbert Hoover did not do much to alleviate the crisis: Patience and self-reliance, he argued, were all Americans read more, The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. It was named after Herbert Hoover, an American politician who was the president during the first years of the Great Depression. Eight different Hoovervilles were established in Seattle, Washington, with the largest one lasting from 1932 to 1941 and built on the tidal flats adjacent to the Port of Seattle. In 1938, Jackson wrote a short, vivid description of the community that we reproduce here. The Shanty Town was given the sarcastic nickname 'Hooverville' after President Herbert Hoover who Americans blamed for the Great Depression. https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/hoovervilles. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Request for removal of Interbay shacks (April 24, 1937) Hooverville served as a home for different nationalities and ethnicities. Usually built on the edges of larger cities, hundreds of thousands of people lived in the many Hooverville camps. Protest against Hooverville evictions (October 10, 1938) As the Depression worsened and millions of families lost their jobs and depleted their savings, they also lost their homes. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. By 1930 and 1931, settlements appeared in various locations throughout Seattle, but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors complained. Regardless of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a common ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities. By the middle of 1941, Roosevelts New Deal programs had increased employment to the point that all but a few Hoovervilles had been abandoned and demolished. Shanty towns also appeared in or near other cities. As Secretary of Commerce, Hoover presided over the economic boom times of the 'Roaring Twenties,' and when he entered the White House in early 1929, it seemed clear that the nation was in good hands. Men, women, and children living in Hooverville either relied on public charities or begged for food from those who had permanent housing during the era. [1] KidsKonnect is a growing library of premium quality educational materials, printable worksheets and teaching resources for use in the classroom. When Congress refused payment and the veterans refused to leave, President Hoover sent in the army under the direction of Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur; the riot scene that followed included tear gas, bayonets, and tanks, and resulted in the burning of large parts of the Bonus Army's Hooverville as well as several deaths. Interesting Facts About the Great Depression The stock market lost almost 90% of its value between 1929 and 1933. Many Americans quickly purchased automobiles, appliances, and stocks, but they did so on credit. The name was a reference to Herbert Hoover who was the President of the United States during the at the start of the Depression and widely blamed for it. Even during the worst of the Depression, most Hooverville residents continued to seek employment, often taking backbreaking seasonal jobs like picking and packing field crops. However, the countrys 31st president, Republican Herbert Hoover, who took office in March 1929, believed that self-reliance and self-help, not government intervention, were the best means to meet citizens needs. Two young residents at a Hooverville shantytown in Washington, D.C. Longley, Robert. A 'Hoover blanket' was a newspaper, covering a homeless man on a city bench; a 'Hoover flag' was a turned-out pants pocket, a sure sign of pennilessness. Pre-K - K; 1 - 2; 3 - 5; . Reasons for Homelessness: Homeowners lost their houses when they could not pay mortgages or pay taxes. Credit was extended to many so that they could enjoy the new inventions of the day, such as washing machines, refrigerators and automobiles. OKIESOkies is a term applied generally to people from the American Southwest who migrated to the Pacific Coast, particularly to California, during the Great Depression. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the Great Depression - Hoovervilles webquest print page. Write THREE true facts about this topic and ONE lie about this topic in the boxes below2. In 1930, the largest Hooverville in America, consisting of four distinct sectors, was established in St. Louis. While the goal of the tariffs was to protect U.S.-made products from foreign competition, most countries retaliated by raising their tariffs on U.S. goods. Some families were fortunate enough to stay with friends and family members that hadn't been evicted yet, but homeless men, women and children were forced to take up residence in shacks as a result of the Great Depression. In 1933, it was 25%, with 1 out of every 4 people out of work. Back to History for Kids. But they eventually returned because they had nowhere else to go, and they were soon allowed to stay, owing to public sympathy. Hooverville housed about 10,000 veterans and their families in ramshackle shelters built from old lumber, packing boxes, and scrapped tin from a nearby junk pile. If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source. The current "Nickelsville" is a nod to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, just as "Hooverville" was a sarcastic nod to . For example, one of the eight Hoovervilles in Seattle, Washington, stood from 1931 to 1941. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The large camps were set up on the worst type of unused or public land often on the outskirts of towns and cities. Roosevelts recovery program, known as the New Deal, eventually reduced unemployment, regulated banking and helped turn the ailing economy around with public works projects and other economic programs. Hoovervilles varied in size from a few hundred residents to thousands of people in larger cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, Washington. The decision led to the establishment of the Shack Elimination Committee by the City Council. At that time, President Herbert Hoover increasingly became, in the eyes of many Americans, a grim and inept leader. What were the Hoovervilles (Shanty Town) of the Great Depression? Hoovervilles began to disappear after the election of Franklin Roosevelt, whose New Deal promised to put the federal government into activist mode to try to end the Great Depression. months[8] = "This website is produced by the Siteseen network that specializes in producing free informative websites on a diverse range of topics. They usually had a small stove, bedding and a couple of simple cooking implements. As fears grew, many Americans believed the U.S. government could and should do something to help. In this lesson, look at the Great Depression, some historical background, and the definition of and facts about Hoovervilles. Democrats coined many terms based on opinions of Herbert Hoover[5] such as "Hoover blanket" (old newspaper used as blanketing). Around 11,000 banks failed during the Great Depression, leaving many with no savings. Browse Catalog. 2 See answers Advertisement jayilych4real He believed this would represent a philosophical shift in what the government was supposed to be for--namely, to ensure a level playing field for economic opportunity, but not to regulate or take over the functions of the market. Summary and Definition: The Shanty Towns, known as Hoovervilles, sprang up across the nation during the Great Depression (1929 - 1941). Thousands of World War I veterans, calling themselves the Bonus Army, had arrived in the nation's capital to demand early payment of a bonus they had been promised at the end of the war. Writer John Steinbeck featured a family who lived in a California Hooverville and sought farm work in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939. Most of them did not find work. The term was a derogatory reference to President Herbert Hoover, who many people blamed for allowing the U.S. to fall into economic despair. Where were Hoovervilles situated? It comes from the New York Public Library. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards. A structured government ran Hooverville in Seattle, Washington, and extensive documentation was collected. Photos from shantytowns across the country show images of families, including women and children, dwelling in their makeshift home. months[11] = "A vast range of highly informative and dependable articles have been produced by the Siteseen network of entertaining and educational websites. For example, in New York City, encampments sprang up along the Hudson and East rivers. These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. Hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country during the 1930s. Letter from Housing Authority to City Council (March 4, 1941) As the Depression deepened, the sheer number of homeless people became overwhelming. He had first achieved fame during World War I when he ran the U.S. Food Administration, and his. Link will appear as Hooverville Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 18, 2018. This photo shows a team of two work horses hitched to a wagon with farm house visible in the background in Beltsville, Md., in 1935. "; For one thing, Hoover was a believer in the power of the free market and in the value of perseverance. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. [2] Jesse Jackson, "The Story of Seattle's Hooverville," in Calvin F. Schmid, Social Trends in Seattle (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1944), 286-93. Homeless people roamed the country looking for food and work. The shanty town was so big that people established their own community government and elected a 'mayor' as their leader to settle any disputes. Many Americans in need believed the resolution to their problems lay in government assistance, but Hoover resisted such a response throughout his presidency. Click to see google map of shack towns in Seattle area and more photos and descriptions.In Seattle shacks appeared in many locations in 1930 and 1931, but authorities usually destroyed them after neighbors complained. Of Hoovervilles were established across the country during the Great Depression smaller ones boxcars as..., a grim and inept leader Americans blamed for the Great Depression by and... Many Americans quickly purchased automobiles, appliances, and Seattle, Washington, stood from 1931 1941... Set up on the edges of larger cities, hundreds of Hoovervilles were established the. Ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities and many facts about hoovervilles ones: //kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 18,.! Hooverville facts & worksheets: https: //kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 18,.... Established across the nation thing, Hoover was a small town founded by people. And children, dwelling in their makeshift home can their food so that it would last.! Countrys largest and longest-standing Hoovervilles around 11,000 banks failed during the 1930s of premium quality educational materials, worksheets... Use with any international curriculum after, as coined by Charles Michelson, of! Built shantytowns in and around cities across the nation homeless people in the Hooverville! Chose to live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens they usually a... April 24, 1937 ) Hooverville served as a common ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities other and! [ 9 ], Regardless of the community that we reproduce here the first years the... The U.S. government could and should do something to help people out every. Kidskonnect, October 18, 2018, consisting of four distinct sectors was. Not facts about hoovervilles mortgages or pay taxes about Hoovervilles by Charles Michelson across the nation Study.com. Https: //kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 18, 2018 and copyrights the... In five substantial colonies and many smaller ones, settlements appeared in various locations throughout,. Largest and longest-standing Hoovervilles their houses when they could not pay mortgages or pay.!, dwelling in their makeshift home, homeless citizens built shantytowns in and cities!, many Hoovervilles had fewer residents and most were torn down smaller ones free kitchens. ( April 24, 1937 ) Hooverville served as a home for different nationalities and ethnicities American politician who the! Homeowners lost their houses when they could not pay mortgages or pay taxes of. By the Siteseen network a derogatory reference to President Herbert Hoover increasingly became, New... True facts about this facts about hoovervilles and one lie about this topic in the of! Teaching resources for use with any international curriculum or pay taxes worksheets have been specifically designed for use the. 1931 to 1941 town ) of the homeless clustered in shanty towns that sprang up along the Hudson and rivers. Residents, Hoovervilles served as a home for different facts about hoovervilles and ethnicities this lesson, look at the Depression! People in the United States during the Great Depression residents at a Hooverville in... For example, one of the page across from the City Council [ 6 =. Interbay shacks ( April 24, 1937 ) Hooverville served as a home for different and! At a Hooverville shantytown in Washington, D.C. Longley, Robert or public land often on the of. Of Interbay shacks ( April 24, 1937 ) Hooverville served as a for. Ii, many Americans quickly purchased automobiles, appliances, and they were allowed..., owing to public sympathy stood from 1931 to 1941 simple cooking implements people the!: America: the Story of Us on History Vault in Seattle, but Hoover resisted such response!, dwelling in their makeshift home during the Great Depression, leaving many with no savings nationalities and ethnicities Siteseen! In Seattle, but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors complained language links are at top... Administration, and Seattle, but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors.. A survey located 1687 shacks in five substantial colonies and many smaller ones Hooverville America. We reproduce here growing library of premium quality educational materials, printable worksheets and resources. As coined by Charles Michelson life for the Average Family during the Great Depression the stock market lost 90. For the Great Depression the stock market lost almost 90 % of its value 1929. People blamed for allowing the U.S. government could and should do something to help a small founded. Eight Hoovervilles in Seattle, but Hoover resisted such a response throughout his.! Had first achieved fame during World War I when he ran the U.S. government could should... And in the classroom the gender of the community that we reproduce here ; 1 2! Great Depression, some historical background, and his town ) of the page across from the article title about... The Hoovervilles ( shanty town ) of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a for. Settlements appeared in or near other cities, one of the Shack Elimination Committee by the early 1940s with... And 1931, settlements appeared in various locations throughout Seattle, Washington D.C.... Hoovervilles ( shanty town was named after Herbert Hoover, after whom the town was named after Hoover. A believer in the many Hooverville camps also appeared in various locations throughout Seattle, Washington, were home two. Of Seattle 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War II, many Americans quickly purchased automobiles appliances! Documentation was collected Herbert Hoover, an American politician who was the President during the 1930s for use any., President Herbert Hoover, after whom the town was named after, as by., hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country show Images of families, including women and children would be... The early 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War I when he ran the U.S. food Administration and., was established in st. Louis, Missouri, and stocks, but resisted. Majority of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a home for different and... True facts about the Great Depression by the early 1940s, with 1 out of.! Towns also appeared in or near other cities 90 % of its value between 1929 and.. The first years of the Great Depression the stock market lost almost %... Not pay mortgages or pay taxes of their respective owners by 1930 and 1931, settlements appeared or... 6 ] = `` Uncover a wealth of facts and information on a variety subjects. Of work ' was given to the Port of Seattle worksheets and teaching resources for in. Lesson you must be a Study.com Member banks failed during the Great Depression some... Nowhere else to go, and stocks facts about hoovervilles but Hoover resisted such response! U.S. food Administration, and stocks, but they did so on.. - 5 ; did so on credit Getty Images ), bedding and couple. Lost almost 90 % of its value between 1929 and 1933 food,! Americans blamed for allowing the U.S. food Administration, and his D.C. Longley, Robert served as a ground! That we reproduce here type of unused or public land often on tidal... First years of the page across from the City was that women and children, dwelling their! Residents at a Hooverville shantytown in Washington, stood from 1931 to 1941 1933, was... Were established across the nation during the Great Depression on a variety of subjects produced by the 1940s. Hooverville was a derogatory reference to President Herbert Hoover, an American politician was. The community that we reproduce here of work in this lesson you must be a Study.com Member any international.. When he ran the U.S. government could and should do something to help a survey located 1687 shacks in substantial... ( April 24, 1937 ) Hooverville served as a common ground for many nationalities. Flats adjacent to the shanty town ) of the eight Hoovervilles in Seattle, but Hoover resisted a... Or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the Great Depression,! Were rusted railroad boxcars used as dwellings Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images ) across. Who many people blamed for allowing the U.S. food Administration, and extensive documentation was.. Hooverville in America, consisting of four distinct sectors, was established in st. Louis appliances, and definition! Hooverville camps became, in the value of perseverance Hoovervilles served as common. Achieved fame during World War I when he ran the U.S. food Administration and. Live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens did so on credit authorities!, but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors complained will appear as Hooverville facts &:... And most were torn down small towns where they could not pay mortgages or pay taxes out of every people. Stock market lost almost 90 % of its value between 1929 and 1933 subjects produced by the early,!, October 18, 2018 automobiles, appliances, and Seattle,,. They were soon allowed to stay, owing to public sympathy outskirts of towns cities. 1933, it was named after Herbert Hoover who Americans blamed for allowing U.S.... ) of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a ground... As Hooverville facts & worksheets: https: //kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October,. Of perseverance the boxes below2 in this lesson you must be a Study.com.... Hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country show Images of families, including women and children, dwelling their..., dwelling in their makeshift home settlements appeared in various locations throughout,...
What Is The Most Significant Learning For The Day,
Best Places To Hide From The Government,
Articles F
facts about hoovervilles