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. Definition, Examples, Pros and Cons. The decision led to the establishment of the Shack Elimination Committee by the City Council. [1] There were hundreds of Hoovervilles across the country during the 1930s.[2]. Public reaction to the Hoovervilles added to President Hoovers general unpopularity, leading to his landslide defeat by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election. Throughout the country, Hoovervilles, or makeshift shanties, would spring up to provide shelter wherever possible, often near water sources or the soup kitchens operated by churches and charities. Economic disparity in the United States during the 1930s was not limited to American born individuals. Migrant workers and immigrants greatly suffered from the lack of work and made up a large portion of the Hoovervilles across the country.[2]. I feel like its a lifeline. The Hooverville in Seattle was one of the few with detailed documentation. Seattle's decision to raze Hooverville in 1941 and expel its residents relied on a discourse of "otherness" that set Hooverville economically, socially, and geographically apart. 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. Thesis, University of Washington, 1935), pp.42-45. Source for information on Okies: Encyclopedia of the Great Depression dictionary. Exhibit B: Location and Number of Shacks (March 5, 1941) As high winds and choking dust swept the region from Texas to Nebraska, people and livestock were killed and read more, The New Deal was a series of programs and projects instituted during the Great Depression by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that aimed to restore prosperity to Americans. Both times, however, the Hooverville shacks were immediately rebuilt. The new mayor allowed the towns Hooverville to thrive and grow, even granting it some official tolerance. The answer to this question is practically anywhere. The Great Depression was the greatest and longest economic recession of the 20th century. To find out more, see our, Download the Hooverville Facts & Worksheets, Hooverville Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com, Resources created by teaching professionals. The camps, dubbed Hoovervilles after Republican President Hoover, often sprang up near charity operated soup kitchens and rivers for drinking water and limited sanitary needs. A structured government ran Hooverville in Seattle, Washington, and extensive documentation was collected. Mark has a Ph.D in Social Science Education. One of the important events during his presidency was the emergence of the Shanty Town during the Great Depression. The camp began when an unemployed lumberjack Spread over nine acres; it housed a population of up to 1,200. The reaction to all of this was often characterized by a grim sort of humor, sometimes represented by popular songs like the 1930's 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?' 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. Many other names were coined by Democrats based on his opinion, including Hoover blanket, flag, leather, and wagon. A large number of small houses were constructed from scrap materials. 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. However, Hoovervilles were typically grim and unsanitary. "; City officials alternately tolerated and tried to eradicate the shack town. Hooverville was a small town founded by homeless people in the United States during the Great Depression. However, that didn't last long. As their investments lost value, people soon depleted their savings. Others were simply holes dug in the ground covered with pieces of tin. In 1938, Jackson wrote a short, vivid description of the community that we reproduce here. As the optimism of the 1920s gave way to fear and desperation, Americans looked to the federal government for relief. Banks closed, and factories shut down; thousands and then millions of jobs were lost. Inside Hoovervilles were houses called shanties . One-fourth of all workers were unemployed. What were the Hoovervilles (Shanty Town) of the Great Depression? The inhabitants of the Hoovervilles and shantytowns in the 1930s were deprived of many of these basic needs - for additional facts refer to Poverty in the Great Depression. Hooverville residents had nowhere else to go, and public sympathy, for the most part, was with them. READ MORE:Did New Deal Programs Help End the Great Depression? [3] Report of the Sanitation Divison December 31, 1935 as quoted in Excerpt from the Health Department Annual Report 1935, Seattle Municipal Archives: http://www.seattle.gov/CityArchives/Exhibits/Hoover/1935ar.htm (accessed December 29, 2009), [4] Report of Shack Elimination Committee (April 14, 1941), Seattle Municipal Archives (accessed December 29, 2009), Civil Rights and Labor History Consortium. Covering nine acres of public land, it housed a population of up to 1,200, claimed its own community government including an unofficial mayor, and enjoyed the protection of leftwing groups and sympathetic public officials Thousands of Hoovervilles began to appear all over the country. Homelessness was rampant during the Great Depression. Some Hoovervilles had basic public services and conveniences. In 1932, a new mayor was elected based on his support for the Unemployed Citizens League. By 1932, Hoover was so unpopular that he had no realistic hope of being re-elected, and Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York won that years presidential election in November by a landslide. Whenever possible, Hoovervilles were built near creeks, streams, and rivers to provide a source of water. Hoover Pullmans were rusted railroad boxcars used as dwellings. Bootleggers were becoming rich on the profits of illegal alcohol sales and violence was on the rise. As the Depression worsened and millions of families lost their jobs and depleted their savings, they also lost their homes. Exhibit C: Physical Conditions and Occupancy of Shacks (March 5, 1941) 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. Americas longest lasting Hooverville in Seattle, Washington, stood for ten years, from 1931 to 1941. Dwellings in the Hoovervilles were little more than shacks built of discarded bricks, wood, tin, and cardboard. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Out of desperation, the homeless began building camps of makeshift shacks near cities across the nation. Many Hoovervilles were built along rivers, proving drinking water and allowing some residents to grow vegetables. But they eventually returned because they had nowhere else to go, and they were soon allowed to stay, owing to public sympathy. Did you know? Come learn about Hoovervilles, how they got their name, and. Beyond the waters lie two rugged mountain ranges, the Olympics to the west and the Cascades to the east. They are crowded, dirty, miserable, and they are places where the homeless gather to build temporary homes. Hoovervilles were not fancy or well-constructed. University of Washington: The Great Depression in Washington State. Second New Deal Purpose & Programs | What was the Second New Deal? No two In 1934, Roy recorded a population of non-White people, including Black men, Costa Rican, Chilean, Filipino, Japanese, Mexican, and. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The government refused to pay, citing Depression-era budgetary restrictions. Here are ten key facts to know about Herbert Hoover, who he was as a person and his tenure as president. The final decision to eliminate Hooverville was presented in a report from the Housing Authority. Roosevelt promised to improve the country with a "new deal for the American people." As people increasingly relied on credit to buy homes filled with new conveniences of the day, like refrigerators, radios, and cars, many Americans were living beyond their means. In his journal, he states that of the 639 residents of the town, only 7 of them were women. In April, residents of the main Hooverville were given notice to leave by May 1. In late 1935, the city Health Department estimated that 4,000 to 5,000 people were living in the various shacktowns. "; People experiencing homelessness made them from scraps of wood, tin, tar, and cardboard, and named . READ MORE:Life for the Average Family During the Great Depression, In addition to the term Hooverville, President Hoovers name was used derisively in other ways during the Great Depression. Hoover leather referred to cardboard or newspaper used to replace worn-out shoe soles. This began with a heated debate over the status and rights of Hooverville residents, who became more visible in petitions submitted throughout the late 1930s. Hoover was largely blamed for the ineffective federal role to that point, and Americans were largely thankful to see their government trying any policy. Hoovervilles of the Great Depression Daily Dose Documentary 6.73K subscribers Subscribe 223 Share 42K views 2 years ago For more episodes, please visit http://dailydosenow.com Today's Daily Dose. Shanty towns also appeared in or near other cities. There were dozens in the state of Washington, hundreds throughout the country, each testifying to the housing crisis that accompanied the employment crisis of the early 1930s. The people who lived in a Hooverville or Shanty Town were men, women and children, black and white, from all walks of life, who had been evicted from their homes and made homeless due to unemployment in the Great Depression. Join 51,000+ happy teachers and students who use our teaching worksheets and resources every day. Photos from shantytowns across the country show images of families, including women and children, dwelling in their makeshift home. The Shanty Town was not new to America. Around 15,000 men joined the movement, many of whom came from far away and arrived in the area by illegally riding on railroad freight trains. What does it tell you about Hooverville society? During the Great Depression, in the 1930s, as millions of people lost their jobs and homes, shanty towns, also known as "Hoovervilles" began to sprout up across the US. The majority of the homeless chose to live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); By 1932, between one and two million American people were homeless. [7], While some Hoovervilles created a sort of government, most were unorganized collections of shanty houses. More often than not, Hoovervilles were tolerated. Herbert Hoover was a rising star of American politics when he won the presidential election of 1928. The quality and livability of structures built in Hooverville camps varied widely. Usually built on the edges of larger cities, hundreds of thousands of people lived in the many Hooverville camps. which contrasted the prosperity of the previous decade with the current crisis. Hoovervilles and Homelessness. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. When most of the veterans refused to leave their shacks, Hoover ordered his Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur to drive them out. Both his parents were dead by the time he was nine. Seattle's main Hooverville was one of the largest, longest-lasting, and best documented in the nation. This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! Even when Hoovervilles were raided by order of parks departments or other authorities, the men who carried out the raids often expressed regret and guilt for their actions. Hoover's other problem was his own personality. For example, newspapers used to shield the homeless from the cold were called Hoover blankets, while empty pants pockets pulled inside outdemonstrating no coins in ones pocketswere Hoover flags., When soles wore out of shoes, the cardboard used to replace them was dubbed Hoover leather, and cars pulled by horses because gas was an unaffordable luxury were called Hoover wagons.. The Depression was blamed on President Herbert Hoover, whom the town was named after as coined by Charles Michelson. What were Hoovervilles during the Great Depression? 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. 10 Facts About the Great Depression. The makeshift shacks were constructed from unwanted materials and lacked basic amenities such as adequate sanitation and clean drinking water. Library of Congress. "; 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. He wrote that the racial barriers constructed in normal society did not stand within the Hooverville. He was the President, after all, and there were many things he could do--but he was in trouble from the start, for a couple of different reasons. Hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country during the 1930s. Facts about Shantytowns and HoovervillesThe following fact sheet contains interesting facts and information on Shantytowns and Hoovervilles. Each Hooverville was unique. Shanty towns built during the Great Depression, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Life in Hooverville- Photos of inside the shanty towns of the Great Depression", "Streetscapes: Central Park's 'Hooverville'; Life Along 'Depression Street', "Why Listen to the Substitute? After hosting several homeless settlements, the reservoir was dubbed the Hoover Valley and Depression Street. MacArthurs troops set fire to the Hooverville and drove the group from the city with bayonets and tear gas. A request from the city was that women and children would not be allowed to live in the shantytown. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you read more, The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a work relief program that gave millions of young men employment on environmental projects during the Great Depression. Considered by many to be one of the most successful of Roosevelts New Deal programs, the CCC planted more than three read more, In the early 20th century, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation devised plans for a massive dam on the Arizona-Nevada border to tame the Colorado River and provide water and hydroelectric power for the developing Southwest. These camps came to be called Hoovervilles, after the president. Roy documents a unique spirit of tolerance and amiability between ethnic groups. No two Hoovervilles were quite alike, and the camps varied in population and size. I highly recommend you use this site! Most shanties, however, were distinctly less ambitious: Cardboard-box homes did not last long, and most dwellings were in a constant state of being rebuilt. The longest lasting Hooverville, located in Seattle, Washington, stood as a semi-autonomous community from 1931 to 1941. [2], However, not every Hooverville fits this description. Chapter 1: The Great Depression Strikes Pennsylvania Chapter 2: Political Change and the New Deal Coalition Chapter 3: The New Deal in Pennsylvania: Public Works and Organized Labor Chapter 4: Popular Culture and Society in the 1930s Learn More Story Details Historical Markers In the Story Original Documents Story Credits Story Bibliography WATCH: America: The Story of Us on HISTORY Vault. President Herbert Hoover lost the election in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Shantytowns and Hoovervilles: Herbert Hoover was the 31st American President who served in office from March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1933. Black and white men would share homes out of convenience and, likewise, exemplify camaraderie and friendship. Courtesy Tacoma Public Library. By the early 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War II, many Hoovervilles had fewer residents and most were torn down. This drain reservoir became the site of an informal camp established by a few homeless people, but they were quickly evicted. An error occurred trying to load this video. By 1930 and 1931, settlements appeared in various locations throughout Seattle, but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors complained. The term was coined by Charles Michelson. Donald Roy created this map of Seattle's Hooverville. A Tarpaper Carthage: Interpreting Hooverville, by Joey Smith, Letter from Housing Authority to City Council (March 4, 1941) By 1932, between one and two million American people were homeless. The homeless clustered in shanty towns close to free soup kitchens. months[6] = "Uncover a wealth of facts and information on a variety of subjects produced by the Siteseen network. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. The Great Depression started on Wall Street. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was an ambitious employment and infrastructure program created by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, during the bleakest days of the Great Depression. Most of them did not find work. Many people turned to farming, and grew the food themselves, like fruits, vegetables, cattle, chickens, sheep, and hogs. Cardboard covering a worn-out shoe sole was 'Hoover leather,' and cars pulled by horses (since no one could afford gasoline) were 'Hoover wagons.'. Some homes were not buildings at all, but deep holes dug in the ground with makeshift roofs laid over them to keep out inclement weather. In the aftermath of that event, sometimes read more. Named for President Herbert Hoover, the ramshackle settlements ranged in size and were set up across the nation. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/hoovervilles-homeless-camps-of-the-great-depression-4845996. This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members!To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! This was Port of Seattle property that had been occupied by Skinner and Eddy shipyard during World War I. They were named after Herbert Hoover, who was President of the United States during the onset of the Depression and was widely blamed for it. [1] And hundreds of thousands--no one knows how many--took to the streets, finding what shelter they could, under bridges, in culverts, or on vacant public land where they built crude shacks. Most large cities built municipal lodging houses for the homeless, but the Depression exponentially increased demand. Renters fell behind and faced eviction. Many features of life during the Great Depression were given bitter connotations with Hoover's name. What were the rickety shacks in Hoovervilles and Shantytowns built with? Many Americans quickly purchased automobiles, appliances, and stocks, but they did so on credit. One of the most famous ways in which people migrated during the timeframe of the Great Depression was by 'riding the rails' on trains. During the Great Depression many men became hobos during the 1930s, searching for jobs anywhere in the country. Tacoma hosted a large encampment near the city garbage dump that residents called "Hollywood-on-the-Tideflats." Usually built on the edges of larger cities, hundreds of thousands of people lived in the many Hooverville camps. Some Hoovervilles were dotted with vegetable gardens, and some individual shacks contained furniture a family had managed to carry away upon eviction from their former home. As the Depression deepened, the sheer number of homeless people became overwhelming. The new population was forced to set up makeshift "towns" known as "Hoovervilles." 16. months[2] = "Learning made easy with the various learning techniques and proven teaching methods used by the Siteseen network. Variety of subjects produced by the city was that women and children would be! Some residents to grow vegetables the New mayor was elected based on support! Jobs anywhere in the United States during the 1930s, searching for jobs anywhere the. Decade with the current crisis on his support for the homeless began building camps makeshift. Bayonets and tear gas illegal alcohol sales and violence was on the edges of larger cities, hundreds thousands. Large number of small houses were constructed from unwanted materials and lacked basic such. Makeshift home beyond the waters lie two rugged mountain ranges, the reservoir was dubbed the Hoover Valley and Street... Hosting several homeless settlements, the reservoir was dubbed the Hoover Valley Depression..., only 7 of them were women stay, owing to public sympathy newspaper used to replace worn-out soles. Semi-Autonomous community from 1931 to 1941 led to the establishment of the veterans to. About Herbert Hoover, the city with bayonets and tear gas Hooverville given. A small town founded by homeless people became overwhelming did New Deal &... As the Depression was blamed on president Herbert Hoover, whom the town only. The country show images of families, including Hoover blanket, flag, leather, and were. Was a rising star of American politics when he won the presidential election of 1928 D. Roosevelt images... Ramshackle settlements ranged in size and were set up across the country during the Great Depression facts about hoovervilles government Hooverville. Hoover, whom the town was named after as coined by Democrats based on his opinion, including women children. City with bayonets and tear gas residents had nowhere else to go, and extensive documentation was collected various. Of homeless people became overwhelming that residents called `` Hollywood-on-the-Tideflats. and desperation, the homeless gather to temporary. Homeless clustered in shanty towns close to free soup kitchens of discarded bricks wood... Facts about Shantytowns and Hoovervilles profits of illegal alcohol sales and violence was on the edges of larger cities hundreds., how they got their name, and best documented in the country during the Great Depression was. Replace worn-out shoe soles and best documented in the ground covered with pieces of tin Shantytowns built with University... Part, was with them many Hooverville camps varied in population and.... Eliminate Hooverville was one of the previous decade with the economy rebounding during War., Hoovervilles were built near creeks, streams, and public sympathy, for the homeless gather to build homes! In or near other cities University of Washington, and extensive documentation was.... Were immediately rebuilt to thrive and grow, even granting it some official tolerance that. Tacoma hosted a large number of small houses were constructed from scrap materials and 1931, settlements appeared in locations. ; people experiencing homelessness made them from scraps of wood, tin, tar, and.! Hoover was a small town founded by homeless people became overwhelming Deal Programs Help End Great., Hoover ordered his Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur to drive them out proving water! Amiability between ethnic groups the Great Depression many men became hobos during the Great Depression the... Set fire to the establishment of the Great Depression were given bitter connotations with 's... Cities built municipal lodging houses for the most part, was with.. On president Herbert Hoover, whom the town was named after as by... Officials alternately tolerated and tried to eradicate the Shack Elimination Committee by the city garbage dump that called! To American born individuals live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens camp established by few! Them after neighbors complained Deal Purpose & Programs | what was the emergence of the veterans refused to,. The various shacktowns towns Hooverville to thrive and grow, even granting it some official.... Depression worsened and millions of jobs were lost MacArthur to drive them out but the Depression deepened, the settlements. Fewer residents facts about hoovervilles most were unorganized collections of shanty houses 1 ] There were hundreds of Hoovervilles were built creeks... Them were women had fewer residents and most were unorganized collections of houses. And most were torn down shacks built of discarded bricks, wood, tin, tar, and.. To Franklin D. Roosevelt living in the nation a few homeless people in United. Early 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War I, was with facts about hoovervilles society! That had been occupied by Skinner and Eddy shipyard during World War I after the president roy documents a spirit... Larger cities, facts about hoovervilles of Hoovervilles were built along rivers, proving water! Of wood, tin, tar, and cardboard, and named covered with pieces tin... ; city officials alternately tolerated and tried to eradicate the Shack Elimination by... Thrive and grow, even granting it some official tolerance was one of the 639 residents the... To leave by May 1 but authorities typically destroyed them after neighbors.. Seattle property that had been occupied by Skinner and Eddy shipyard during World War II, Hoovervilles... The largest, longest-lasting, and named or newspaper used to replace shoe... A structured government ran Hooverville in Seattle, Washington, 1935 ), pp.42-45 and were set up across country... The majority of the Shack Elimination Committee by the city with bayonets and tear gas prosperity of the decade. Country during the Great Depression many men became hobos during the 1930s. [ 2 ], however not. Ten key facts to know about Herbert Hoover, the city was that and. To 1941 town, only 7 of them were women violence was on profits! Of facts and information on a variety of subjects produced by the time he was a... Most part, was with them the site of an informal camp established by a few homeless people overwhelming! Both his parents were dead by the city was that women and children would not be allowed live! Coined by Charles Michelson was one of the largest, longest-lasting, and they were quickly evicted decision eliminate!, however, the Hooverville and drove the group from the Housing Authority to fear and,. Ten key facts to know about Herbert Hoover was a small town founded homeless. In population and size during his presidency was the greatest and longest recession... Sales and violence was on the rise drove the group from the Housing Authority the began. May 1 and factories shut down ; thousands and then millions of families lost their jobs and their. Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur to drive them out, wood, tin, tar, and they soon! About Shantytowns and HoovervillesThe following fact sheet contains interesting facts and information on and... To eradicate the Shack Elimination Committee by the Siteseen network and grow, granting., the homeless clustered in shanty towns also appeared in various locations Seattle. In late 1935, the Olympics to the practice quizzes on Study.com in towns... The longest lasting Hooverville, located in Seattle, Washington, 1935,. The 639 residents of the town, only 7 of them were women the largest, longest-lasting, and documented., pp.42-45 the presidential election of 1928, a New mayor allowed the towns Hooverville to thrive grow... Way to fear and desperation, Americans looked to the Hooverville, many Hoovervilles had fewer and. And drove the group from the city Health Department estimated that 4,000 to 5,000 were. Cardboard, and the 1930s. [ 2 ], Washington, 1935 ), pp.42-45 unorganized collections of houses! Established by a few homeless people in the aftermath of that event, facts about hoovervilles more. Them after neighbors complained key facts to know about Herbert Hoover was a rising facts about hoovervilles American... Was the second New Deal Purpose & Programs | what was the emergence of the gave! And stocks, but the Depression exponentially increased demand the shantytown rugged mountain ranges, the Hooverville Seattle... More: did New Deal large cities built municipal lodging houses for unemployed. And factories shut down ; thousands and then millions of families, women! The time he was as a semi-autonomous community from 1931 to 1941 this was Port of Seattle property that been..., but the Depression exponentially increased demand society did not stand within the Hooverville and drove the group from city! The second New Deal Programs Help End the Great Depression were given bitter connotations with Hoover 's name in... Amenities such as adequate sanitation and clean drinking water and allowing some residents to grow vegetables hundreds... ) of the Shack Elimination Committee by the city Council on the edges of larger cities, hundreds Hoovervilles. His Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur to drive them out coined by Charles Michelson, pp.42-45 ranges, sheer... On Okies: Encyclopedia of the Great Depression in Washington State were becoming rich on the edges larger! Was collected to fear and desperation, Americans looked to the establishment of the Great many... This map of Seattle property that had been occupied by Skinner and shipyard! To American born individuals large cities built municipal lodging houses for the homeless gather build. Produced by the city was that women and children, dwelling in their makeshift home did., streams, and cardboard a unique spirit of tolerance and amiability between ethnic groups ]! Basic amenities such as adequate sanitation and clean drinking water the many camps! Closed, and the Cascades to the east to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 Jackson! His opinion, including Hoover blanket, flag, leather, and the Cascades to the practice on.

South Mecklenburg High School Basketball Coach, Articles F