1. Herbert Hoover’s Presidency

2. About Me 31st president of the United States Republican party
Grew up as an orphan and relied on his intelligence and work ethic to become successful
Self made business man and millionaire
Had very little political experience before becoming president
Secretary of Commerce
Donated his paycheck to charity while president
He once stated, “We shall soon…be in sight of
the day when poverty will be banished from this
Nation.”

3. Hoover and the Depression
Just 7 months into his presidency the Stock Market crashed launching the nation into depression
Heightened stance on Individualism
The people need to be more self-reliant
Feared that Government interference would hurt the economy even more
Tried to balance the federal budget by cutting federal spending and raising taxes
Thought that federal aid/relief to the poor would make people too dependent on government
As unemployment, homelessness, and hunger grew people became frustrated with Hoover; blaming him for their suffering

4. Efforts to relieve the depression
Placed an emphasis on volunteer efforts and charities
Churches, and private charities; Red Cross and Salvation Army
The number of people in need was just too overwhelming for the private charities and volunteers
Public Works Projects
Hoover recognized that the people needed gov’t support
Too little, too late
Provided some assistance/funding to states
towards the end of his term
Hoover’s conservative approach was
pretty much a failure

5. Public Works Projects
Government funded projects to build resources that benefit the public
Examples: dams, roads, bridges, tunnels, National Parks, highways, etc.
These projects needed laborers and people needed jobs
A lot of modern architecture and our National Parks were created during the Great Depression

7. Bonus Army March
WWI veterans were promised a bonus for the services that wasn’t to be paid until the 1940s
Many veterans were jobless and demanded advance payment
12,000-15,000 war vets marched to DC and set up camps outside the capitol to ask congress for advanced payment
The senate voted down a bill that would meet the bonus army’s demands
Army used tanks and tear gas to drive the Bonus Army out of Washington
This made the American public furious

9. Hoovervilles
Shanty towns created by the unemployed, hobos/tramps, and the homeless during the Great Depression
Named after President Hoover because these people blamed him for their struggles
People would use any type of material they could find to make shelters and houses
Ex: scraps of wood, metal scraps, pieces of cars, parts from appliances, etc.