1. President Hoover’s Response
Events and Ideas # 4
U.S. History
Unit 4

2. Essential Questions:
What efforts did President Hoover make to help the U.S. recover from the Depression? Why weren’t his efforts successful and how did American respond?

3. Take regular notes and…
Throughout this slideshow there are a number of questions. Write the questions in the left hand section of your notes and answer them on the right

4. Promoting Recovery
President Hoover was very cautious in his relief efforts
Hoover tried to downplay fears over the severity of the depression
On March 1930 Hoover stated, “the worst effects of the crash…will have passed in the next 60 days”
Rarig is an engineer who owned a company who was still doing well during the Depression

5. In reality, the downturn continued to be severe until 1932, when the economy had technically “hit bottom.” Why do you think Hoover was so cautious about relief efforts and optimistic about economic recovery?

6. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover said:
“The sole function of the government is to bring about a condition of affairs favorable to the beneficial development of private enterprise.”

7. Loss of Export Sales
Officials believed that raising trade prices would force Americans to buy more goods at home, which would keep Americans employed.
Congress passed the Hawley-Smoot Tariff and Hoover signed it into law
Hawley-Smoot Tariff raised the tariff rate to the highest level in US history

8. Hawley-Smoot Tariff
Hawley-Smoot Tariff was aimed to protect US manufactures from foreign competition
Foreign governments responded by raising their tariffs
By 1932 US exports fell to one-fifth of 1929 levels
It virtually closed our borders to foreign goods and ignited a vicious international trade war

10. Add to your list… Causes of the Great Depression:
11. Hawley-Smoot Tariff restricts demand for US goods

11. Voluntary Efforts & Public Works
Hoover tried to rally businesses and industry
Businesses pledged not to drop wages; this pledge ended in 1931
Hoover encouraged local governments to increase spending on public works
PROBLEM: How would local government pay public workers?
What was Hoover NOT doing to fix the problems of the Great Depression?

12. Direct Help
Hoover opposed direct relief of citizens by the federal government
Hoover felt the responsibility falls on local governments
Who is Hoover giving the responsibility to fix the depression?
Who is he NOT giving responsibility to fix the depression?

13. Hoover signs the Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932
1932 Reconstruction Finance Corporation is established to loan money to banks and industries
Reconstruction Finance Corporation, like Hoover, was too cautious
Lent $238 million but it was not nearly enough
How did this keep recovery from coming to the nation as a whole?
Rescue Efforts
The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) was an independent agency of the United States government, established and chartered by the US Congress in 1932, Act of January 22, 1932, c. 8, 47 Stat. 5, during the administration of President Herbert Hoover. It was modeled after the War Finance Corporation of World War I. The agency gave $2 billion in aid to state and local governments and made loans to banks, railroads, mortgage associations and other businesses. The loans were nearly all repaid. It was continued by the New Deal and played a major role in handling the Great Depression in the United States and setting up the relief programs that were taken over by the New Deal in 1933.
The Emergency Relief and Construction Act (July 21, 1932), was the United States's first major-relief legislation, enabled under Herbert Hoover
It created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation which released funds for public works projects across the country.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard received an allotment of $880,000, marked for specific projects such as $215,000 for repairs and the maintenance of roofs, waterfront quays and docks, and Yard's railroad system.
The biggest chunk, $855,000, was designated for a major overhaul of the power plant, to put in a new turbo generator, piping, boilers, and other engines.

14. In An Angry Mood
Hoover’s relief efforts were too conservative; people are very upset and frustrated
Citizen’s begin protesting:
Hunger Marches happen throughout U.S.
Farmer’s Revolt in 1932
Veterans march on Washington (Bonus Marches)

15. Hunger Marches
Farmers, veterans and others protested for government assistance.
“Hunger marches” were held that often led to rioting.
American Communist Party organized marches to take advantage of the plight of the government.
At what point would you start to protest?
Farmers, veterans and others protested for government assistance.
“Hunger marches” were held that often led to rioting.
i. January, 1931 in Oklahoma City, 500 protestors broke into grocery store and looted it.
ii. December 5, 1932 in Washington D.C., 1,200 hunger marchers assembled and chanted “Feed the hungry, tax the rich.” Police herded them into a blocked off area and left them there for the night, they could not leave, could not get medical attention, and were denied food and water.
American Communist Party organized marches to take advantage of the plight of the government.

16. Answer these questions while watching the video: https://www. youtube
Hoovervilles
Bonus Army
What were Hoovervilles?
What were they made of?
Why were they called Hoovervilles?
Where did WWI veterans set up their Hoovervilles?
How many veterans were there?
Who did they bring with them?
What was their purpose?
How many refused to leave?
What did they use to disperse the Bonus Army?

17. Bonus Army
In 1924, Congress promised to pay $1,000 in bonuses to WWI troops - to be paid in 1945
In Veterans demanded early payment due to economic conditions.
15,000 veterans marched on Washington, D.C. looking for an advance on the bonus promised.
The March of the Bonus Army
In 1932, a remarkable event occurred in Washington, DC. In the darkest days of the Depression, thousands of unemployed World War I veterans marched to the capital city, looking to Congress for an advance on the bonus compensation promised to them years earlier.

18. Bonus Army Veterans of WWI camped and lobbying for two months.
Veterans were violently cleared them from the city leaving thousands of veterans and their families homeless.
After serving and surviving WWI who would this situation make you feel? How would you react?
After camping and lobbying throughout Washington for two months, the veterans were driven out by force, as rising military figures General Douglas MacArthur, Major Dwight Eisenhower and Major George Patton cleared out the "Bonus Army" and burned their camps. By the time the clash was over, two marchers were dead, thousands were tear-gassed and countless homeless veterans, many with families, were driven violently from the capital. The Bonus Army incident had become a political liability for President Herbert Hoover. Still, it laid the groundwork for later social legislation, including the all important GI Bill for WWII veterans.
Roosevelt later issued an executive order allowing the enrollment of 25,000 veterans in the CCC, exempting them from the normal requirement that applicants be unmarried and under the age of 25. Congress, passed the Adjusted Compensation Payment Act in 1936 authorizing the immediate payment of the $2 billion in WWI bonuses over the President's veto.

19. President Hoover with President elect Roosevelt
A Country on the Brink
Hoover failed to resolve the crisis of the Depression
He did increase government help to the economy, but it was not enough in the citizens’ minds
In 1933 Hoover ran for re-election and was defeated overwhelmingly by Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover %
Franklin D. Roosevelt %
Republican Presidential term: March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
President Hoover with President elect Roosevelt

20. Analyze this map
Who won the election? Who lost?
What was the total of his popular vote?
How many electoral votes did he receive?

21. Answer the Essential Question completely describing what efforts President Hoover made to help the U.S. recover from the Depression. Explain why his efforts were unsuccessful and how American responded