1930s Depression Era Slang

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Date:

Instructions: Explore the gritty language born from the Great Depression and its hard times

1.
During the Great Depression, what was a 'Hooverville'?
A
A shantytown of makeshift shelters built by homeless people
B
A presidential campaign stop
C
A type of vacuum cleaner factory
D
A town named after the president
2.
In 1930s slang, what was a 'breadline'?
A
A type of fishing line
B
A type of bread
C
A baking technique
D
A line of people waiting for free food from a charity
3.
What did 'riding the rails' mean during the Depression?
A
Illegally hopping on freight trains to travel
B
Leaning on a fence
C
Working for the railroad
D
Ice skating
4.
In 1930s vocabulary, what was a 'soup kitchen'?
A
A canning factory
B
A laboratory
C
A place offering free meals to the destitute
D
A restaurant specializing in soup
5.
During the Depression, what was a 'Dust Bowl'?
A
The drought-stricken Great Plains region plagued by dust storms
B
A dirty dish
C
A bowling alley
D
A type of hat
6.
In 1930s slang, what did 'on the dole' mean?
A
Receiving government relief or welfare payments
B
Playing with dolls
C
On vacation
D
Being sad
7.
What was a 'hobo jungle' during the Great Depression?
A
A dense forest
B
A makeshift camp near railroad tracks where hobos gathered
C
A children's playground
D
A tropical area
8.
In 1930s Depression lingo, what was a 'Hoover blanket'?
A
A brand of blanket
B
A newspaper used as a blanket by homeless people
C
A type of flag
D
A warm quilt
9.
What did 'Brother, can you spare a dime?' represent in the 1930s?
A
A bank slogan
B
A religious plea
C
A popular song and phrase symbolizing the plight of the unemployed
D
A children's rhyme
10.
In 1930s slang, what was 'scrip'?
A
A doctor's prescription
B
A type of handwriting
C
A certificate or receipt used as a substitute for money
D
A movie script
11.
What were 'Okies' during the 1930s?
A
People who were okay
B
A type of cookie
C
Migrant workers from Oklahoma fleeing the Dust Bowl
D
A baseball team
12.
In Depression-era slang, what did 'making do' mean?
A
Cooking dinner
B
Manufacturing goods
C
Making a deal
D
Getting by with whatever was available
13.
What was a 'bank holiday' in the context of the 1930s Depression?
A
A government-ordered temporary closure of all banks
B
A celebration at a bank
C
A vacation paid for by a bank
D
A day off for bank employees
14.
In 1930s slang, what was a 'dime-a-dance' establishment?
A
A cheap store
B
A children's dance class
C
A jukebox
D
A dance hall where patrons paid ten cents per dance with a partner
15.
During the Depression, what did 'Hoover flag' refer to?
A
The American flag
B
A presidential banner
C
An empty pocket turned inside out, symbolizing poverty
D
A white surrender flag

Answer Key

Question 1

A. A shantytown of makeshift shelters built by homeless people

Question 2

D. A line of people waiting for free food from a charity

Question 3

A. Illegally hopping on freight trains to travel

Question 4

C. A place offering free meals to the destitute

Question 5

A. The drought-stricken Great Plains region plagued by dust storms

Question 6

A. Receiving government relief or welfare payments

Question 7

B. A makeshift camp near railroad tracks where hobos gathered

Question 8

B. A newspaper used as a blanket by homeless people

Question 9

C. A popular song and phrase symbolizing the plight of the unemployed

Question 10

C. A certificate or receipt used as a substitute for money

Question 11

C. Migrant workers from Oklahoma fleeing the Dust Bowl

Question 12

D. Getting by with whatever was available

Question 13

A. A government-ordered temporary closure of all banks

Question 14

D. A dance hall where patrons paid ten cents per dance with a partner

Question 15

C. An empty pocket turned inside out, symbolizing poverty

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