Great Depression Pres. Hoover’s response

Pres. Hoover Oct. 25 (day after Black Thursday)- Hoover stated that: Oct. 25 (day after Black Thursday)- Hoover stated that: Industry was “on a sound and prosperous basis”

Steps taken by Hoover *don’t write* 1. Attempted to get factories to stay open & stop slashing wages (business leaders then abandoned this) 2. Increase public works (govt. financed building projects)- the effort made up for only a small fraction of the jobs lost in the private sector 3. Refused to increase govt. spending

Steps continued… *don’t write* 4. Set up the NCC (National Credit Corporation)- created a pool of money to enable troubled banks to continue lending money in their communities (did not meet the nation’s needs) 5. Asked Congress to set up the RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation) make loans to banks, railroads, & agricultural institutions (was overly cautious & failed to increase its loans in sufficient amounts to meet the need)

Steps continued… *don’t write* 6. Strongly opposed the federal govt.’s participation in relief (money that went directly to impoverished families). He believed that only state & city govt.’s should dole out relief. 7. Congress passed the Emergency Relief & Construction Act ($1.5 mil. for public works & $300 mil. for direct relief)—by the time Hoover reluctantly signed it, it was too late. 7. Congress passed the Emergency Relief & Construction Act ($1.5 mil. for public works & $300 mil. for direct relief)—by the time Hoover reluctantly signed it, it was too late.

Beliefs of Hoover 1. Believed that people should help themselves (vetoed a bill that would have given direct aid to the unemployed & given the govt. the ability to produce & sell electricity) 2. Offered to help banks & businesses in hopes that the effect would trickle down to relieve unemployment at the bottom

Bonus Army a group of WWI veterans marched on Washington to demand payment of the bonus Congress promised them in a group of WWI veterans marched on Washington to demand payment of the bonus Congress promised them in 1945 Hoover sent out the army to drive the protesters away & that made him even more unpopular w/ Americans Hoover sent out the army to drive the protesters away & that made him even more unpopular w/ Americans

Statistics million workers unemployed million workers unemployed over 30,000 companies had closed over 30,000 companies had closed more than 12 mil. Unemployed more than 12 mil. Unemployed ,000 banks had failed ,000 banks had failed wages for workers cut by over 60% wages for workers cut by over 60% avg. family income dropped from $2,300 to $1, avg. family income dropped from $2,300 to $1,600 Hooverville- houses created from cardboard, tin, etc. Hooverville- houses created from cardboard, tin, etc. Hoover stew- soup/stew received at soup kitchen Hoover stew- soup/stew received at soup kitchen

Dust Bowl Due to drop in crop prices, fields left uncultivated, & then a drought struck Due to drop in crop prices, fields left uncultivated, & then a drought struck Soil dried to dust & winds blew the dust for hundreds of miles Soil dried to dust & winds blew the dust for hundreds of miles Many farming families packed up & migrated to California from Oklahoma (“Okies”) Many farming families packed up & migrated to California from Oklahoma (“Okies”)

Hoboes Many forced off farms heard about work hundreds of miles away (hopped trains illegally to get there) Many forced off farms heard about work hundreds of miles away (hopped trains illegally to get there) Approx. 2 mil. men, 8,000 women Approx. 2 mil. men, 8,000 women Used symbols to communicate w/ other hoboes Used symbols to communicate w/ other hoboes

Culture Movies mil. went weekly to escape their problems Movies mil. went weekly to escape their problems Radio- The Lone Ranger & Tonto, soap operas- The Guiding Light Radio- The Lone Ranger & Tonto, soap operas- The Guiding Light Literature- Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury Literature- Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury Stars- Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Walt Disney Stars- Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Walt Disney Movies- Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Gone with the Wind Movies- Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Gone with the Wind