Ham and Eggs Movement facts for kids
The Ham and Eggs movement was a group in California during the 1930s. They wanted the state to give money regularly to older people who didn't have jobs. This idea is called an old-age pension.
The movement was started by Robert Noble, a well-known radio speaker, and Willis Allen. It was similar to other groups at the time that wanted better pensions, like the one led by Francis Townsend. The Ham and Eggs movement became very popular, gathering almost one million members! They sent a huge amount of mail to the California government, pushing for their plan. However, their idea was voted on by the public in 1938 and was narrowly defeated.
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What Was the Ham and Eggs Movement?
The Ham and Eggs movement aimed to help older people during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people lost their jobs and had very little money. The movement believed that giving money to older citizens would also help the economy.
How It Started
After Robert Noble, brothers Willis and Lawrence Allen took over the movement. They owned a radio station that helped them spread their message. Their main advisor was Gertrude Coogan, who helped explain their financial ideas.
The Big Idea: Proposition 25
The movement strongly supported a plan called Proposition 25 in 1938. This idea came from a person named Irving Fisher. The plan suggested that any Californian aged 50 or older who didn't have a job would get $30 each week. This money would come in special "warrants."
Each $1 warrant would need a small two-cent tax paid every week to keep it valid. People hoped that to avoid paying this weekly tax, people would spend the warrants right away. This quick spending was supposed to boost the struggling economy.
Why "Ham and Eggs"?
The name "Ham and Eggs" came from the idea that if people had more money, they could afford better food. Instead of just eating simple breakfast oatmeal, they could buy something nicer, like ham and eggs.
While the Ham and Eggs movement's plan didn't pass, similar ideas helped make Social Security seem like a good solution later on. Social Security is a system that provides financial support to retired people and others in need today.
