Hardship and Suffering During the Depression

1. What were some of Hoover's key convictions about government?        
Hoover believed in a small, limited government that had little interference with the individual. He supported the idea of "rugged individualism," thus he opposed direct relief and other forms of federal welfare. His solution to the problem of the needy was that individuals, charities, and local organizations should help them, since he didn't believe the government directly should. He also believed that one of the main functions of the government was to foster cooperation between competing groups and interests in society, but not control it. 


2. What did President Herbert Hoover say and do in response to the Great Depression?       
Hoover didn't take much action in response to the Great Depression until the end of his presidency. His initial steps were cautious: he called together key leaders in business, banking, and labor and asked them to look for solutions, and he also created a special organization to help private charities come up with contributions for those in poverty. These actions didn't have much effect. Although, he did propose the construction of the Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam), and that dam created benefits for surrounding states. Eventually, Hoover started to do more in response to the Depression. He support the creation of the Federal Farm Board, encouraged banks to establish the National Credit Corporation, and signed the Federal Home Loan Bank Act. He continued to appeal to Congress to pass various things that he thought would improve the economy, such as banking reform, provided mortgage relief, and more federal money in business investment. The biggest thing Hoover did in response to the Great Depression though, was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which was passed by Congress in 1932. The RFC could put a maximum of $2 billion into large businesses. A quote from Hoover, "Every time we find solutions outside of government, we have not only strengthened character, but we have preserved out sense of real government," shows how Hoover's belief in a limited government prevented him from intervening to much with the Great Depression. 


3. Why do you think people blamed Hoover for the nation's difficulties?       
People blamed Hoover for the nation's difficulties because he wouldn't provide federal welfare and direct relief, therefore people in poverty who were desperately in need of such things felt the nation's difficulties were indirect consequences of Hoover's government philosophies and hesitance to take the drastic action that was needed in response to the Great Depression. 

4. How did Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shape his policies during the Great Depression.

Think About:

• what his belief implies about his view of people

• how that translates into the role of government

• Hoover’s policies (How effective were they?)       
Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shaped his policies during the Great Depression by causing him to not want to issue any federal welfare towards individuals during the Depression. He believed that people who got by on their own would have higher self-respect and stronger "moral fiber," therefore he was very hesitant to have the government intervene in individuals' lives; the majority of his actions in response to the Depression involved businesses and the creation of organizations, not aid towards individuals. So, due to Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism," and thus his subtle, for lack of a better word, actions during the Great Depression, his policies weren't very effective at all, and the nation noticed. 

5. What did the Bonus Army want and how did Hoover respond?      
The Bonus Army wanted the financial bonus and life insurance that was guaranteed to be issued to them in 1945, because their fighting in World War 1 needed compensation. So, the Bonus Army was gathered in D.C. to show support for the Patman Bill that was under consideration in Congress, which said that they (WWI veterans) should be paid that bonus immediately. However, Hoover took the Bonus Army for communists and criminals and opposed the legislation. When the bill was voted down by Senate, Hoover order the Bonus Army to leave, but not all left. So Hoover issued an 1000 man force to make the remaining veterans leave. These soldiers threw tear gas bombs, prodded people with bayonets, and set fire to buildings in order to uproot the Bonus Army. 


6. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt heard about the attack on the Bonus Army, why was he so certain that he would defeat Hoover?

Think About:

• the American public’s impression of Hoover (See your answer to No. 3)

• Hoover’s actions to alleviate the Great Depression (see your answer to No. 4)

• how people judged Hoover after the attack.       
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was so certain that he would defeat Hoover when he heard about the attack on the Bonus Army because the public already had a low opinion of Hoover and blamed the nation's problems on him, so when Hoover issued an attack against U.S. veterans, Roosevelt knew that that would not settle well with the public at all, which it didn't. People were shocked that Hoover could treat WWI veterans the way he did.  Also, considering Hoover's actions to alleviate the Great Depression weren't very helpful or effective, Roosevelt had good reason to believe that the public was anxious for a new, more ambitious, leader.