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. The makeshift shacks were constructed from unwanted materials and lacked basic amenities such as adequate sanitation and clean drinking water. Many people would can their food so that it would last longer. 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. By the early 1940s, with the economy rebounding during World War II, many Hoovervilles had fewer residents and most were torn down. months[8] = "This website is produced by the Siteseen network that specializes in producing free informative websites on a diverse range of topics. Photos from shantytowns across the country show images of families, including women and children, dwelling in their makeshift home. Click the image to see a larger version of the map and here to read excerpts from Roy's sociological survey.By 1934 nearly 500 self-built one-room domiciles were "scattered over the terrain in insane disorder," according to Donald Roy, a sociology graduate student who studied the community. Cardboard covering a worn-out shoe sole was 'Hoover leather,' and cars pulled by horses (since no one could afford gasoline) were 'Hoover wagons.'. As elsewhere in the country, Washington State's Communist Party helped to organize the unemployed into active political and social formations. 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. Hoover was largely blamed for the ineffective federal role to that point, and Americans were largely thankful to see their government trying any policy. ThoughtCo. The Shanty Town was given the sarcastic nickname 'Hooverville' after President Herbert Hoover who Americans blamed for the Great Depression. Nearly 29 percent of the population was non-white. Inadequate sanitation, lack of clean drinking water and poor nutrition lead to a variety of diseases and illnesses such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, diarrhea, rickets, influenza, pneumonia and skin diseases. In May 1942, shortly after Seattle destroyed its Hooverville, the Tacoma Fire Department burned fifty of the "Hollywood" shacks. https://www.thoughtco.com/hoovervilles-homeless-camps-of-the-great-depression-4845996 (accessed March 1, 2023). "Hoovervilles: Homeless Camps of the Great Depression." 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. After negotiating with the camps mayor, the Health Department agreed to let the residents remain as long they observed minimal safety and sanitary rules. 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?' However, Hoovervilles were typically grim and unsanitary. Reasons for Homelessness: Homeowners lost their houses when they could not pay mortgages or pay taxes. Hundreds of Hoovervilles were established across the country during the 1930s. During the Great Depression, Hoovervilles provided shelter to many of the homeless population of America. "Hooverville" was a deliberately politicized label, emphasizing that President Herbert Hoover and the Republican Party were to be held responsible for the economic crisis and its miseries. Back to History for Kids. Economic disparity in the United States during the 1930s was not limited to American born individuals. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. var months = new Array(12); months[5] = "Explore the interesting, and fascinating selection of unique websites created and produced by the Siteseen network. Named for President Herbert Hoover, the ramshackle settlements ranged in size and were set up across the nation. In June, many of the so-called Bonus Army marched to the Capitol to request early payment of the government bonuses they had been promised for their military servicemoney that would have alleviated the financial problems of many families. 361 lessons. No two The Great Depression was the most severe and enduring economic collapse of the 20th century, and included abrupt declines in the supply and demand of goods and services along with a meteoric rise in unemployment. President Herbert Hoover, however, refused to propose any assistance programs, saying instead that Americans should help each other. President Herbert Hoover lost the election in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt. The majority of the homeless chose to live in small towns where they could easily access free soup kitchens. 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. In his estimation, prosperity would return if people would simply help one another. Because of the lack of government, it took a lot of work. Those who did were chronically underpaid. Most were unemployed laborers and timber workers, few of whom had held any jobs in the previous two years. Dwellings in the Hoovervilles were little more than shacks built of discarded bricks, wood, tin, and cardboard. [9], Regardless of the gender of the residents, Hoovervilles served as a common ground for many different nationalities and ethnicities. By 1932, Herbert Hoovers last full year in office, the U.S. unemployment rate had soared to 25%, with more than 15 million people without jobs or homes. This was handled by an elected Vigilance Committee-- consisting of two whites, two blacks, and two Filipinos-- led by a white Texas native and former lumberjack named Jesse Jackson, who came to be known as the unofficial "Mayor" of Hooverville. Did New Deal Programs Help End the Great Depression? until the land was needed for shipping facilities on the eve of World War II. Homeless people were forced to live in absolute poverty in the Hoovervilles or shantytowns in the 1930s. These areas were frequently on private lands, but the trespassing settlements were simply ignored as the crisis demanded. At that time, President Herbert Hoover increasingly became, in the eyes of many Americans, a grim and inept leader. They posed health risks to their inhabitants as well as to those living nearby, but there was little that local governments or health agencies could do. We pride ourselves on being a safe website for both teachers and students. The largest Hooverville, located in St. Louis, Missouri, was home to as many as 8,000 homeless people from 1930 to 1936. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/hoovervilles-homeless-camps-of-the-great-depression-4845996. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis: Chapters 1-5 | Summary & Analysis, Themes in Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis | Examples & Analysis, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis | Summary & Characters of Bud, Not Buddy, Bud's Rules in Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis | Significance & Analysis, Vietnamization Policy & Significance | Nixon's Plan to Withdraw American Forces. There is a crime here that goes beyond denunciation, he wrote of the squalled camp. .adslot_1 { width: 300px; height: 250px; } A Brief Look at the U.S. Department of Labor. In 1933, it was 25%, with 1 out of every 4 people out of work. Hoovervilles lacked the services found in typical towns. In his famous novel the Joad family briefly settles into a Hooverville in California. Construction within the strict timeframe proved an immense read more, The Dust Bowl was the name given to the drought-stricken southern plains region of the United States, which suffered severe dust storms during a drought in the 1930s. The anger directed at Herbert Hoover didn't stop with the label given to the makeshift settlements. In late 1935, the city Health Department estimated that 4,000 to 5,000 people were living in the various shacktowns. While private and corporate philanthropy provided some assistance during the early 1930s, poverty continued to increase rapidly. However, some cities banned them if they trespassed on parks or privately owned land. Excerpt from Health Department Annual Report (1935)
Response from Health Department (May 23, 1935)
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. Including the veterans, their families, and other supporters, the crowd of protesters eventually grew to nearly 45,000 people. 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. They cut down dramatically on their purchases, but less buying meant fewer goods needed, so companies didn't need so many employees. months[2] = "Learning made easy with the various learning techniques and proven teaching methods used by the Siteseen network. When most of the veterans refused to leave their shacks, Hoover sent in U.S. Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur to evict the Bonus Army. Seattle is fortunate to have the kind of detailed documentation of its Hooverville that other cities lack, and we have compiled these unique resources here. Some cities allowed squatter encampments for a time, others did not. The committee included two Whites, two Blacks, and two Filipinos. A "Hooverville" is the popular name for slum towns built by people without homes during the Great Depression. The quality and livability of structures built in Hooverville camps varied widely. 01 of 10 First Quaker President Hoover was the son of a blacksmith, Jesse Clark Hoover, and a Quaker minister, Huldah Minthorn Hoover. The smaller camps tended to come and go, while the larger Hoovervilles proved far more permanent. Nonwhites comprised 29% of the colony's population, including 120 Filipinos, 29 African Americas, 25 Mexicans, 4 Native Americans, 4 South Americans, and 2 Japanese. "; Home Facts Privacy About Blog Contact Terms. Some Hoovervilles had basic public services and conveniences. 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. Robert Longley is a U.S. government and history expert with over 30 years of experience in municipal government and urban planning. The New Deal Legacy & Impacts | What is the Legacy of the New Deal? The Great Depression saw the collapse of the United States' economy, rampant unemployment and a broad sense of hopelessness. Most of them did not find work. "; 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. 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. But they eventually returned because they had nowhere else to go, and they were soon allowed to stay, owing to public sympathy. Hoover also didn't think it would work and that a crisis such as this one would have to blow over on its own. 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. This was supervised by Mayor Jackson, who also led the Vigilance Committee. These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). Black and white men would share homes out of convenience and, likewise, exemplify camaraderie and friendship. Many felt that the government had to help those who lost work in the 1930s. These settlements were often trespassing on private lands, but they were frequently tolerated or ignored out of necessity. months[3] = "Check out the interesting and diverse websites produced and created by the international publisher in the Siteseen network. By the early 1940s, Roosevelts New Deal programs had turned the economy around and many of the Hoovervilles had been abandoned and demolished. City of Seattle.Americans React to the Great Depression. Herbert Hoover was a rising star of American politics when he won the presidential election of 1928. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. In 1932, Hooverville was established in Anacostia, District of Columbia, to house a group of WWI veterans seeking expedited benefits, dubbed the Bonus Army. He offers fascinating observations about social mores and culture of the community, including the easy racial relations and tolerance of homosexuality. Life in the encampments remained best described as grim. Workers, whether migrant or immigrant, suffered from a lack of jobs making up a large portion of Hooverville. The numbers, as mind-boggling as they are, tend not to reflect the actual state of suffering caused by the greatest economic catastrophe in U.S. history. Desperate for shelter, homeless citizens built shantytowns in and around cities across the nation. With such a well-developed social order, the camp maintained itself as a functional separate community from 1930 to 1936, when President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal sweeping economic recovery plan allocated federal funds for its removal. - Definition & History, Effects & Events of the US Civil War from Various Perspectives, William Monroe Trotter: Quotes & Biography, Andrew Carnegie: Steel, Net Worth & Philanthropy, Neil Armstrong: Biography, Facts & Moon Landing, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Thousands of Hoovervilles began to appear all over the country. A 'Hooverville' on waterfront of Seattle, Washington, March 1933. Democratic National Committee publicity director and longtime newspaper reporter Charles Michelson is credited with coining the term, which first appeared in print in 1930. Homelessness followed quickly from joblessness once the economy began to crumble in the early 1930s. 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. Seattle's Hooverville had lasted a full decade.[4]. Most people, however, resorted to building their residences out of wood from crates, cardboard, scraps of metal, or whatever materials were available to them. The camp began when an unemployed lumberjack Spread over nine acres; it housed a population of up to 1,200. Of families, and two Filipinos various shacktowns the election in 1932 to Franklin D. Roosevelt had fewer residents most. 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