Hoovervilles During The Great Depression

“I’m the only person of distinction who’s had a depression named for them” -Herbert Hoover (BrainyQuote). Herbert Hoover was president just before the time period of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. One of the main things Herbert Hoover is remembered for is Hoovervilles. The Salem Press Encyclopedia defines Hoovervilles as “Makeshift shantytowns that arose during the Great Depression”. During the Great Depression, millions of Americans found themselves without a home and were required to build Hoovervilles. These “homeless shelters” were very unsanitary and often unstable. They were built from “tin, tar paper, salvaged lumber, and canvas that offered little protection from the elements” (Asher). Even though Hoovervilles were dirty and disgusting, they were a necessity for many Americans. “Hundreds of thousands of families lost their homes; as many as 2 million men, women and children wandered the highways of America seeking shelter” (Brands 34-41). Hoovervilles, though they may not provide the best means of protection, were the only things homeless Americans could use for shelter. As the Depression progressed, Hoovervilles became more and more prevalent, popping up from New York City to Denver. “Shantytowns appeared across the U.S. as unemployed people were evicted from their homes” (History.com).

There were many other products during the Great Depression named after Herbert Hoover. “An old newspaper was called a ‘Hoover blanket’. An empty pocket turned out was known as a ‘Hoover flag’” (Robinson). “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’” (History.com). What did Herbert Hoover do to earn such a terrible name? He didn’t think that having the government step in would fix anything, which made many people