Homelessness during

1640-1820

By Wendy Orozco
Josue Peña
Period 2
October 31,2018
 Being Homeless in 1640

The English “vagrants” (meaning a

person without a home or regular
wor) were listed as outcast
individuals with police after them.
The homeless were regarded as
“sturdy beggars” in the mid
eighteenth century and they were
found in every corner of the colonial
towns. For example, towns like
Baltimore and Philadelphia had a
more significant number of
homeless people than any town in
America.
 Being Homeless in 1692
During 1692, in the Massachusetts Bay
Colony, five men,two dogs, and fourteen
women were executed for witchcraft, and
many more were accused of it. No one was
immune from the accusations, no matter
the age, religion, ethnicity, or fortune.
Many who were accused were thrown out
of their homes to avoid ruining the
reputation of those associated with them.
 Homeless In 1675

The problem of homelessness

during this period was a result of the
King Philip War of 1675-1676
against the native people. The cause
of King Philip's war was a band of
Wampanoag warriors that raided
borders of Massachusetts and
massacred English colonist. Many
colonies were driven out of their
homes to seek shelter in the forests
or coastal areas.
 Homeless During the American Revolution
During the American Revolution, the
homelessness increased like never
before. Many individuals after the
war were forced into homelessness
due to insufficient needs. As the war
continued between the French and
Indians, the securities of some
families were threatened, forcing
many families to become refugees
across the frontier areas like New
England and New York.
 Homeless In 1800
Starting in 1800, over 4.3 million immigrants
moved to the United States. They traveled to
America to “escape” the plagues and debts from
their homelands. Since most immigrants settled
in overcrowded cities, it was hard for everyone
to find shelter and a job. Those who did have
jobs, did not have anyone to take care of their
children. The year of 1800 saw the most amount
of homeless children in America.
 Homeless In 1820 (Industrial Revolution)
The Industrial Revolution began in the
1820s-‘30s ;people began migrating from
farms to the city in search of jobs.
Philadelphia and New York had many
people walking the streets causing the
country’s first panhandling ordinances.
City jails became de facto shelter systems.
Poor safety regulation caused a lot of
physical disability and death. Those being
disabled, or widows, many with
dependent children . At the time, city jails
became their only choice to get some
shelter.
 Bibliography
“History.” Homelessness, depts.washington.edu/triolive/quest/2007/TTQ07033/origins.html. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018.
“King Philip's War Begins.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24AD, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-philips-
war-begins. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.
“SOME HISTORICAL NOTES.” Historical Notes from Stephen Wolfram's A New Kind of Science,
www.wolframscience.com/reference/notes/1019bhttp://folk.ntnu.no/haugwarb/TKP4175/History/development_of_thermodynami
cs.pdfhttps://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/energy-and-enzymes/the-laws-of-thermodynamics/a/the-laws-of-
thermodynamics. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.
“The History of Homelessness in America 1640s to Present.” Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness, 18 Mar. 2014,
www.dceh.org/the-history-of-homelessness-in-america-1640s-to-present/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018.
Schiff, Stacy. “Inside the Salem Witch Trials.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2017,
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/09/07/the-witches-of-salem. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018.