1. Hoover Struggles with the Great Depression
Ch. 22 sec. 3
Hoover Struggles with the Great Depression

2. Facts about Herbert Hoover
1st president born west of the Mississippi River – from Iowa
Orphaned at young age
“rags to riches” story
Stanford University
Mining Engineer

3. Herbert Hoover
Elected President in 1928 – promised every American family would have “A chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage”.

4. Hoover’s reaction to stock market crash
Hoover tries to reassure American public
Wanted Americans to remain optimistic and go about business as usual

5. Hoover’s philosophy of government
Man of strong principles
Belief in RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM – idea that people should succeed through their own efforts

6. Hoover reaction to depression
Opposed any form of federal welfare or DIRECT relief (would weaken people’s self-respect)
Individual charities and local organizations should provide relief
Federal gov’t should limit their role and not take too much power

7. Hoover Quote about Government
“Every time we find solutions outside of government, we have not only strengthened character, but we have preserved our sense of real government.”

8. Hoover’s actions
Asked business leaders to work together to create solutions, avoid cutting wages or laying off employees
Asked private charities to help out more
NONE OF THESE SOLUTIONS WORKED

9. Public’s reaction to Hoover’s leadership
Frustrated citizens create new terms:
“Hoovervilles”
“Hoover Blankets”
“Hoover Flags”
People blamed Hoover for their circumstances

10. Hoover starts to be more active…
Creation of Boulder (Hoover Dam) – create jobs
Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) – provides $$$ to banks & businesses to pump $ into the system to “trickle down”

11. The Bonus Army
1932 – over 10,000 veterans and families arrived in D.C. supporting a bonus bill to WWI veterans
Senate voted down the bill, Hoover called on the marchers to leave but they stayed
Hoover finally sends a force of 1,000 soldiers in to remove the veterans: people gassed, shot and injured – most Americans stunned by the incident & Hoover’s image suffers more