1. Topic: What caused the Great Depression and Hoover’s failed reaction
Do Now:
“The Depression was caused by the conservative, laissez faire policy of the Republican government. If the government had continued to regulate the corporations, the Depression would not have occurred.”
Defend or Refute This Statement

2. The Election of Herbert Hoover (1928)
Coolidge refuses to run again
Herbert Hoover (Rep)
“Great Organizer” (WW I)
Fmr. Sec of Commerce
Al Smith (Dem)
Catholic
Anti-Prohibition
Rural Dems unhappy
Hoover wins in landslide

3. Causes of the Depression
Farmer Problems (throughout 1920s)
Overproduction
Consumer Credit/Debt
Technological unemployment
European economic problems
Stock speculation and Margin Buying
Black Tuesday: October 29, 1929

4. Depression!

5. Impact of Depression

6. Hoover and the Great Depression
Hoover’s “Rugged Individualism”
No socialism or “Big gov’t”
“trickle down” plan
No “handouts”
Hoover planned to help businesses and banks
Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)
Some Reps turn on Hoover
1930: Smoot-Hawley Tariff
1932: Bonus Army Incident
Role of Gen. Macarthur
Hoover’s reputation destroyed

7. Conclusion
How do you feel about the statement at the beginning of today’s lesson now? Explain if you still agree or disagree…