Hoover And Great Depression

Question 1

2 key features of Hoover’s reaction to Great Depression

Answer 1

1. He didn’t directly help, believing in volunteerism
2. Introduced laws to help indirectly

Question 2

Why didn’t Hoover intervene to help usa

Answer 2

• laissez-faire attitude
• emphasised rugged individualism

Question 3

What is rugged individualism

Answer 3

• Idea that government shouldn’t interfere with people’s lives
• and no handouts to help people

Question 4

How did government interfere to help

Answer 4

• 1930, hawley-smoot tariff
• 1932, emergency relief + construction act

Question 5

When was hawley smoot tariff act passed

Answer 5

1930

Question 6

When was emergency relief + construction act passed

Answer 6

1932

Question 7

What did Hawley-smoot tariff do

Answer 7

• raised import taxes on over 20,000 European goods by 40%

Question 8

What did hawley-smoot tariff aim to do

Answer 8

• increase the prices of non-American goods
• so American goods were cheaper and more appealing
• this increased the number of American goods purchased
• led to gradual increase in price of American goods

Question 9

What did 1932 emergency relief + construction act do

Answer 9

Gave loans to promote building of infrastructure

Question 10

What was the aim of emergency relief and construction act 1932

Answer 10

• provide jobs
• to help economy

Question 11

Name the famous infrastructure built using loans from the emergency relief + construction act

Answer 11

Hoover dam

Question 12

Hoover’s limited reaction made him very unpopular

Answer 12

//

Question 13

2 features of unemployment following the depression

Answer 13

1. Many lost jobs and savings
2. Many moved to Hoovervilles

Question 14

How many banks closed by 1933

Answer 14

9000 banks

Question 15

How much was lost in savings from bank failures

Answer 15

$2.5 billion lost in savings

Question 16

What other meteorological event was going on at the same time

Answer 16

• dust bowl:
• stormy weather conditions
• destruction of farms

Question 17

How much did farmer’s income fall in 1932

Answer 17

$6 billion to $2 billion

Question 18

What did farmers do as a result of the dust bowl and crash

Answer 18

• migrated elsewhere having lost their land

Question 19

What happened to wages in industry in 1933

Answer 19

Wages Halved
- even ford made workers redundant

Question 20

By 1933, what % of the workforce was unemployed

Answer 20

25%
- couldn’t afford rent

Question 21

2 key features of Hoovervilles

Answer 21

1. Named after Hoover
2. Very bad conditions

Question 22

Why were the Hoovervilles named after Hoover

Answer 22

• mocking him
• for doing nothing to help

Question 23

Who live in Hoovervilles predominantly

Answer 23

• blacks + immigrants
• who lost their jobs

Question 24

Sanitary and quality of life conditions in Hoovervilles

Answer 24

• lack of clean water
• lack of electricity

Question 25

What were homes in Hoovervilles made of

Answer 25

- scrap material - like cardboard, wooden planks

Question 26

2 features of bonus marchers

Answer 26

1. WW1 veterans who were promised bonuses 2. Marched to Washington

Question 27

How much was the bonus

Answer 27

$625 each

Question 28

Why were they promised bonuses

Answer 28

- to make up for their lost wages while serving

Question 29

Why did the veterans want their bonuses now

Answer 29

- many became unemployed - many lost their savings - needed the money to feed their families

Question 30

What did the bonus marchers do to act

Answer 30

- 1932, 20,000 bonus marchers marched to Washington DC And: - after congress rejected their proposal - set up camp in Washington DC

Question 31

Why did the veterans march on Washington and set up camp

Answer 31

- to put pressure on Hoover

Question 32

What did Hoover do in response to the bonus march

Answer 32

- Hoover called the army to teargas the marchers - 100 injured - 3 killed

Question 33

What effect did Hoover’s reaction to the bonus marchers have on him

Answer 33

- even more unpopular now - especially because veterans are very highly respected in usa - also he set police against veterans

Question 34

How many bonus marchers were there in the march in 1932

Answer 34

20,000 WW1 veterans

Question 35

When did the bonus marchers march on Washington

Answer 35

1932