Hoovervilles: Cities Made of Cardboard and Scraps — Reading Comprehension

Premium Resource

Grades

Standards

D2.HIS.1.3-5
D2.HIS.2.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2
SL.4.1

About This Reader

This history reading passage explores the rise of Hoovervilles during the Great Depression in the United States. Students learn how people built whole neighborhoods from cardboard, wood scraps, and anything they could find after losing their homes and jobs. The passage covers the causes and effects of the Great Depression, the daily life and community spirit within Hoovervilles, and how people helped one another in hard times. Aligned to C3 Framework history standards and Common Core ELA standards (RI, W), this resource includes a glossary of key terms, a timeline of events, a multiple-choice quiz, and writing activities. Also included are a Spanish translation and a public domain photograph. This resource is ideal for building historical understanding and literacy skills, with read aloud audio and engaging, standards-based activities.

CONTENT PREVIEW

The Great Depression began in 1929. Many people lost their **jobs** and homes. Factories closed. Banks failed. People looked for ways to survive.

Without money, families could not pay rent. Soon, they had nowhere to live. All over the country, people built small houses from cardboard, wood, and metal scraps. These groups of houses were called **Hoovervilles**. The name came from President Herbert **Hoover**. Many blamed him for not doing enough to help. People said, "We are living in Hoovervilles because of Hoover."

Each Hooverville looked different. Some were made from old boxes. Others used tin or other things people found. People worked together to build these homes. They shared food and water. They tried to make their new life as safe as possible.

Life in a Hooverville was hard. There was little clean water. There were no bathrooms or electricity. People cooked over fires. Many children did not go to school. Still, neighbors helped each other. They formed small communities. Some people started gardens. Others made soup kitchens to feed those who were hungry.

Even with these struggles, people stayed hopeful. Many looked for work every day. Some traveled to other cities to find jobs. They did not give up. In a letter from a Hooverville resident, a man wrote, "We have lost much, but we still have each other."

Government leaders saw the problem. In the early 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt became president. He started new programs to help people find jobs and homes. With these changes, fewer people needed to live in Hoovervilles. Slowly, the small cities of cardboard and wood disappeared.

Hoovervilles remind us of a time when people had to be strong. They teach us about courage and **community**. When times were tough, people worked together and hoped for a better future.

Interesting Fact: The largest Hooverville was in Seattle, Washington. It lasted for almost ten years and covered nine acres!

When did the Great Depression begin?

1929193919181945

Who were Hoovervilles named after?

Herbert HooverFranklin RooseveltAbraham LincolnGeorge Washington

What did people build Hoovervilles from?

Cardboard and scrapsBricks and cementStone and glassClay and sand

Why did people have to leave their homes?

Lost jobs and moneyBad weatherWanted adventureMoving for fun

How did people help each other in Hoovervilles?

Shared food and built homesIgnored each otherLeft the cityFought every day

What was one effect of Roosevelt’s new programs?