Hoover’s Response Fails 12.3 Mrs. Stoffl

Cautious Response to Depression Fails O Despite Hoover’s noble efforts to bring the U.S. out of the Great Depression he epically failed. O Hired many experts but could not find a solution that worked…

Hoover Turns to Volunteerism O Hoover initially followed a hands-off policy O Economy naturally has ups and downs + Gov’t should not interfere O Strong businesses will be able to weather the storm O Turned to Volunteerism: O Asked business leaders to voluntarily keep wages, employment and prices at current levels O Also asked the gov’t to reduce taxes + cut interest rates ∴ more $ into business O Asked the wealthy to donate to the poor O Food, clothes, money etc

Volunteerism Fails to Bring Relief O Hoover could not persuade all ppl to put aside self- interest for the greater good O Business still cut wages + jobs O Asked state + local businesses to provide more jobs and relief measures O Localism: policy where problems should and could be solved at state/local levels O Rugged Individualism: Hoover’s belief that the fed gov’t should not use its resources O Ppl could better themselves w/o public aid

Hoover… O Cardboard boxed – Hoover houses O Campfires – Hoover heaters O Horse drawn carriage – Hoover wagons

Hoover Adopts More Activist Policies O Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) O Gave gov’t loans to large businesses and banks which would initiate trickle-down economics: O $ to banks, loan to businesses, businesses would hire more ppl, production/consumption would increase = stimulate the economy O Hoover Dam! O Dam along the Colorado River  created jobs and lots of energy for the West O

Hoover Dam

American’s Protest Hoover’s Failures O Hoover worked hard to help America out of the Great Depression O BUT working (and non-working) Americans were very critical of the slow impact of his policies.

Some Urge Radical Change O Radicals pushed for socialism + communism O Some argued the Great Dep was the sign of the ultimate failure of capitalism O Thought a gov’t-run economy was the only way out O Others turned to fascism as the way out as had several European countries O Nation as the primary loyalty, ethnic cleansing, male dominance and an authoritative dictator O Benito Mussolini in Italy (1922) O Adolf Hitler in Germany (1933)

The Bonus Army Marches on Washington O Most Americans still held on to the American Dream and that times would get better O Did not want a revolution but many saw drastic change as needed O 1932: Group of WWI vets organized in D.C. to collect the bonuses Congress promised in 1924 O Were supposed to be paid in 1945 but many vets hurting due to the G. Dep O ∴ in 1931 Congress agrees to pay them early O President Herbert Hoover vetoed this bill

The Bonus Army Marches on Washington O Summer 1932: 20,000 vets gather in Washington, D.C. in protest O Set up camps and invaded gov’t buildings O Riots broke out in July after police tried to break up their campsites

Hoover Orders the Bonus Army Out O Hoover called for General Douglas MacArthur + federal troops, ordered them to clear the area O MacArthur took it farther and drove them completely out of D.C. O Tear gas and bayonets used O Dwight Eisenhower, also a general, regretted the use of army force to solve a political problem O Other generals (George Patton) promoted its use O s s

The Aftermath Dooms Hoover O Although Hoover did not order the extreme force against the vets photos of the riots hurt his presidency O Ragged and badly injured vets vs. soldiers w/ guns, bayonets, and tear gas O No chance for winning the November 1832 election.

The Grapes of Wrath O Page 389 – think, pair, share O Answer the questions under the critically thinking section individually. O Next, with a partner discuss your answers then prepare to share with the class.