Hoovervilles

Hoovervilles were makeshift shantytowns that appeared across the United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Named after President Herbert Hoover, who was widely blamed for economic hardships, these settlements consisted of shacks built from scrap materials by people who lost their jobs and homes. They symbolized widespread poverty and unemployment, reflecting the desperate living conditions faced by many Americans. Hoovervilles exemplified how economic downturns can cause social dislocation, and their existence highlighted the urgency for government action to address widespread poverty and homelessness.