Some Hoovervilles had basic public services and conveniences. A shantytown, also known as a Hooverville (named for U.S. President Herbert Hoover), was located in Seattle, Washington, during the Great Depression. Facts About Hoovervilles The term Hooverville came from the blame on President Herbert Hoover for the intolerable economic and social conditions. He wrote that the racial barriers constructed in normal society did not stand within the Hooverville. 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. "Hoovervilles," shanty towns of unemployed men, sprung up all over the nation, named after President Hoover's insufficient relief during the crisis. Some cities allowed squatter encampments for a time, others did not. Trade policies made the Great Depression worse. [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. In May 1942, shortly after Seattle destroyed its Hooverville, the Tacoma Fire Department burned fifty of the "Hollywood" shacks. Included are photographs, city documents, a 1934 sociological survey of residents, a short memoir written by the former "mayor" of Hooverville, and more. Some of the homeless found shelter inside empty conduits and water mains. 'Hooverville' was the nickname for any variety of makeshift shelters for homeless people, mostly victims of the Great Depression from 1929 to 1941. Named for President Herbert Hoover, the ramshackle settlements ranged in size and were set up across the nation. This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Others were simply holes dug in the ground covered with pieces of tin. It was headed by the Commissioner of Health, the Superintendent of Buildings, the Chief of Police, and the Chief of the Fire Department, tasked to draft a plan on how to proceed with the elimination of Hooverville. Roy documents a unique spirit of tolerance and amiability between ethnic groups. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country during the 1930s. Between 1929 and 1932, the value of world trade declined by more than half. Photos from shantytowns across the country show images of families, including women and children, dwelling in their makeshift home. Donald Roy created this map of Seattle's Hooverville. Encampments and shantytowns often referred to as tent citieswith similarities to Hoovervillesbegan appearing in parts of California, Arizona, Tennessee, Florida, Washington and other states. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Dwellings in the Hoovervilles were little more than shacks built of discarded bricks, wood, tin, and cardboard. The makeshift shacks were constructed from unwanted materials and lacked basic amenities such as adequate sanitation and clean drinking water. 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. Response from Health Department (May 23, 1935) Facts about Shantytowns and HoovervillesThe following fact sheet contains interesting facts and information on Shantytowns and Hoovervilles. Courtesy Tacoma Public Library. This is especially clear from the lyrics which included this line: 'They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead; why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?'. Hooverville was a small town founded by homeless people in the United States during the Great Depression. months[7] = "The Siteseen network is dedicated to producing unique, informative websites on a whole host of educational subjects. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Hoovervilles are very similar to refugee camps. Some of the men who were forced to live in these conditions possessed construction skills, and were able to build their houses out of stone. [2], However, not every Hooverville fits this description. The longest lasting Hooverville, located in Seattle, Washington, stood as a semi-autonomous community from 1931 to 1941. [1] There were hundreds of Hoovervilles across the country during the 1930s.[2]. Where were Hoovervilles situated? We spend less time wondering what we'd do if we lost it all and had to make do with virtually nothing. Hoovervilles primarily popped up on the outskirts of major cities. 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. It began with the United States stock market crash of 1929, and didn't completely end until after . Hoovervilles were racially integrated. Usually built on vacant land, the camps were largely tolerated by city authorities. Sign Up. All Rights Reserved. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the Great Depression - Hoovervilles webquest print page. How many people lived in the Hoovervilles in the 1930s? Hoover leather referred to cardboard or newspaper used to replace worn-out shoe soles. 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. The term 'Hooverville' probably originated with Charles Michelson, who was a newspaper reporter and, in 1930, the publicity director for the Democratic National Party. Hoover was largely blamed for the ineffective federal role to that point, and Americans were largely thankful to see their government trying any policy. Multiple factors led to the Great Depression, including the U.S. stock market crash in October 1929 and the widespread failure of the American banking system, both of which helped destroy confidence in the nations economy. They were built by unemployed impoverished Americans that had been made homeless and had nowhere else to live. It is just west of Qwest Field and the Alaska Viaduct. Homelessness was rampant during the Great Depression. Hoovervilles were hundreds of makeshift homeless encampments built near large cities across the United States during the Great Depression (1929-1933). [17] Movies such as My Man Godfrey (1936) and Sullivan's Travels (1941) sometimes sentimentalized Hooverville life.[18]. At its peak, roughly 25%, maybe more, of the American work force was unemployed. Regardless of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a common ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities. Probably the most famous Hooverville was the one founded on Anacostia Flats, just outside Washington, D.C., in 1932. 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. What became the city's main Hooverville started as a group of little huts on land next to Elliott Bay south of "skid road," as the Pioneer Square area was then called. Most Hoovervilles operated in an informal, unorganized way, but the bigger ones would sometimes put forward spokespersons to serve as a liaison between the camp and the larger community. Why was the Shanty Town called a Hooverville? MacArthurs troops set fire to the Hooverville and drove the group from the city with bayonets and tear gas. 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. Report of Shack Elimination Committee (April 14, 1941) Hoovervilles were large groups of simple, makeshift houses built by people who had nowhere else to live during the Great Depression. [3] Men, women and children alike lived in Hoovervilles. "; 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. A request from the city was that women and children would not be allowed to live in the shantytown. Interesting Facts About Hoovervilles During the Great Depression The Bonus Army of veterans built a large Hooverville in Washington D.C. that housed around 15,000 people. [2] Among the white population, nationalities included English, Irish, Polish, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. As fears grew, many Americans believed the U.S. government could and should do something to help. Cardboard covering a worn-out shoe sole was 'Hoover leather,' and cars pulled by horses (since no one could afford gasoline) were 'Hoover wagons.'. It was named after Herbert Hoover, an American politician who was the president during the first years of the Great Depression. During the fall and winter of 1931 and 1932, unemployed workers established Seattle's "Hooverville," a shantytown named in sarcastic honor of U.S. President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), on whose beat the Great Depression began. On October 29, 1929, the date known as Black Tuesday, the stock market crashed, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression. succeed. Check out the Siteseen network of educational websites. Hoovervilles and Homelessness. "; WW1 veterans formed what was called the Bonus Army and 40,000 people descended on Washington D.C. and set up makeshift camps on areas such as the Anacostia Flats. In late 1935, the city Health Department estimated that 4,000 to 5,000 people were living in the various shacktowns. These camps came to be called Hoovervilles, after the president. The Depression increased the demand for such assistance exponentially. 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. .adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; } 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. Absolutely anything that would provide shelter. Thousands of Hoovervilles began to appear all over the country. Inhabitants living in the primitive conditions of the shantytowns were subject to many health problems. The shanty town was so big that people established their own community government and elected a 'mayor' as their leader to settle any disputes. He was proud of the self-built community, saying "Hooverville is the abode of the forgotten man." Most of them did not find work. 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. Next: Unemployed Citizens League and Poverty Activism. Request for removal of Interbay shacks (April 24, 1937) Built with all over the world Copyright 19992023This site uses cookies to improve your experience. - Hoovervilles webquest print page he was proud of the gender of the self-built community, saying `` is... Their makeshift home its peak, roughly 25 %, maybe more, the! Came to be called Hoovervilles, after the President during the Great Depression peak, roughly 25 %, more! Cardboard or newspaper used to replace worn-out shoe soles of Qwest Field and the Alaska Viaduct stood as a community., including women and children alike lived in Hoovervilles. [ 2 ] Among the white facts about hoovervilles, included. Map of Seattle 's Hooverville by unemployed impoverished Americans that had been made and... 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