Compare & Contrast Hoover & Roosevelt

Today’s Objective Students will compare and contrast the strategies used by both President Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression.

US Presidents during Great Depression Herbert Hoover- Was president for less than a year when the Great Depression occurred. Office –How will he handle the Great Depression? Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) –Followed Hoover as President. Office terms (died during 4 th ) –What does this say about him? They both had very different approaches to how to handle the GD.

Reflection- answer in your notes If you were President during the Great Depression what strategies would you use to try to combat the Great Depression and help those in need?

Herbert Hoover

Hooverville in Central Park

Election of 1928 Hoover (Republican) vs. Smith (Democrat) Hoover: Pro-business, conservative, belief in the individual, advocate of small federal government, Protestant Smith: Democrat, pro public health, workers’ compensation, civil liberties, government control of some industries, Catholic Hoover won voters believed prosperity of the 1920s was because of the Republican party

6 months after election the stock market crashed = worst depression in American History

Hoover Struggles with the Depression Philosophy: Hoover opposed any form of federal welfare, or direct relief to the needy. Handouts would weaken a person’s “moral fiber.” Relief, he thought, should come from private organizations. Hoover’s philosophy angered and frustrated many suffering Americans.

Hoover’s Radio Address on Unemployment Relief No governmental action, no economic doctrine, no economic plan or project can replace that God-imposed responsibility of the individual man and woman to their neighbors. That is a vital part of the very soul of the people. If we shall gain in this spirit from this painful time, we shall have created a greater and more glorious America. The trial of it is here now. It is a trial of the heart and conscience, of individual men and women.... (October 18, 1931) 1. Who does Hoover believe should help Americans during the Depression? 2. Why do you think he believes this? 3. What “painful time” is he talking about? 4. Imagine you are unemployed as a result of the Great Depression. 5. What are your feelings towards this statement?

Who did Hoover try to help? By helping the wealthy and businesses, it was believed that financial health would trickle down to help people at the bottom Known as Trickle Down Economics This theory did not work. Businesses used the extra money to improve their businesses instead of helping the workers.

Who did Hoover try to help? Hawley-Smoot Tariff –Highest protective tariff in the U.S. –Designed to protect American farmers and business from foreign competition. It had the opposite effect – world trade fell 40%

Who did Hoover try to help? Reconstruction Finance Corporation –$2 billion for emergency financing for banks, life insurance companies, railroads and other large businesses. –Believed the $ would trickle-down to the average citizen through job growth and higher wages. –To little, to late

Who did Hoover try to help? Construction of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam) –$700 million public works program

The Bonus Army In 1932, WWI veterans marched into Washington D.C. demanding their bonuses The Patman Bill would have given the army their bonuses y; it did not pass Hoover decided to forcibly remove the war veterans by using tear gas –M–Many people were injured, several killed

Anti-Hoover Sentiment Americans grew more and more frustrated by the depression as time passed Farmers burned their crops rather than sell it at a loss As an insult to the president, shantytowns were dubbed “Hoovervilles, ” and newspapers that were used to keep warm were called “Hoover Blankets.” Hoover, who was once seen as a humanitarian, was now seen as a cold and heartless leader.

Hoover’s Legacy Hoover could not effectively deal with the Depression. He was viewed as uncaring and unsympathetic towards the sufferings of Americans This would eventually lead to his losing the election of 1932 to Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Election of The Democrats nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt, FDR, a two term governor of New York. Roosevelt won the presidency by capturing nearly 23 million votes over Hoover 16 million votes. In the Senate, Democrats claimed a 2/3 majority and in the House they won almost ¾ of the seats. The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear ItselfThe Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself

Roosevelt won the election by a landslide

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Roosevelt’s plan for fixing the Great Depression: “The New Deal ” Focus on helping Americans by offering the 3 R’s –R–Relief (immediate help) –R–Recovery (Temp programs to restart economy) –R–Reform (permanent changes)

Relief The government will give direct help or relief to those who are suffering May be food, clothing, or shelter

Recovery The government will provide jobs to help Americans recover from the Depression

Reform The government will regulate (make rules) for business No more laissez faire

Emergency Banking Act- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation- FDIC Fed Emergency Relief Admin- FERA Civil Works Administration (CWA) Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) Public Works Admin (PWA) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Agriculture Adjustment Administration (AAA) Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Works Progress Administration (WPA) Farm Security Admin (FSA) Nationals Labor Relations Act Fair Labor Standards Act 1938 Social Security Act FDR’s New Deal programs were called Alphabet Soup Agencies: Can you think of any new agencies that still use acronyms?

The First 100 Days His main four priorities were to get Americans back to work, protect their savings and create prosperity, provide relief for the sick and elderly, and get industry and agriculture back on their feet.

The Bank Holiday On March 5--the day after being sworn into office-- Roosevelt stepped into the breach and declared a "bank holiday," which, for four days forced the closure of the nation's banks and halted all financial transactions. The "holiday” gave Roosevelt time to push the Emergency Banking Act through the legislative chain. Passed by Congress on March 9, the act handed the president a far-reaching grip over bank dealings and "foreign transactions." Three short days later nearly 1,000 banks were up and running again

Roosevelt’s Actions 1.Gave “Fireside Chats” to calm people over the depression Listen to speech;