Unit 2 Lesson 2: Responses to the Great Depression Flashcards
(30 cards)
Hoover believed strongly in the spirit of American individualism:
that hard work brought its own rewards.
Hoover’s beliefs
To Hoover, the very existence of American civilization depended upon the moral fiber of its citizens. He saw this in the American ability to overcome hardships through individual effort and resolve
How the Hoover feel about the idea of direct government aid?
The idea of direct government aid, what he considered to be “handouts,” was repellant to him. He didn’t like the idea.
In keeping with these principles, Hoover’s response to the crash focused on two common American traditions.
He asked individuals to tighten their belts and work harder in the spirit of “rugged individualism.” He also asked the business community to voluntarily help sustain the economy by retaining workers and continuing production.
rugged individualism
Herbert Hoover’s response to the Great Depression, the idea that individuals had the ability to overcome the effects of the economic depression without government assistance or intervention
On October 22, 1928, as Herbert Hoover’s presidential campaign was nearing its end, he laid out his views about American individualism in a speech titled
“Principles and Ideals of the United States Government.” Today it is better known as his “Rugged Individualism” speech.
What was Hoover’s stance on black tuesday like
Hoover sought to reassure Americans that all was well. Even as economic conditions quickly became worse, he continued to present a positive stance to the public.
Example of Hoover’s stance
For example, in 1931, he pledged federal aid should he ever witness starvation in the country. By that date, however, he still did not believe such a need existed, despite the evidence that children and the elderly were starving to death. Yet Hoover was neither intentionally blind nor unsympathetic. He simply held fast to a belief system that did not change as the realities of the Great Depression set in.
What did Hoover ask the business commuity to do
, Hoover also asked the business community to voluntarily help support the economy by continuing production and keeping employees working.
He called a conference of leading industrialists to meet in Washington, DC. What happened there
e called a conference of leading industrialists to meet in Washington, DC, urging them to maintain their current wages while the nation rode out this brief economic panic.
What did Hoover do with utlity and railorad companies
He held similar meetings with utility and railroad companies and promised billions of dollars in new construction projects.
What were labor leaders like during this time
Labor leaders agreed to withhold demands for wage increases and workers continued to labor.
What did Hoover do about taxes
Hoover also persuaded Congress to pass a $160 million tax cut to bolster American incomes, leading many to conclude that the president was doing all he could to stop the panic.
How did Hoover feel aboutProviding any sort of aid directly to citizens,
Providing any sort of aid directly to citizens, in Hoover’s eyes, was considered a handout. He believed that such an action would not only lower morale but erode the very morals upon which the United States had been built. Instead, Hoover emphasized the importance of private volunteerism to help the impoverished.
What role did private relief agencies have during this time
Private relief agencies, including such organizations as the American Red Cross, Community Chest, and the Salvation Army, distributed food to the poor through soup kitchens and bread lines.
Hoover signed several pieces of legislation providing funding to the states. What impact did this have
The states, in turn, used the resources for public construction projects that would in turn create jobs. Hoover believed that such indirect aid would lead to a trickle-down effect that would put Americans back on their feet. They would not have to depend on charity from the federal government.
Through all this, Hoover’s sympathy for those in need was boundless. elaborate
He refused his presidential salary, and throughout the Great Depression, he donated an average of $25,000 annually to various relief organizations to assist in their efforts. Furthermore, he helped to raise $500,000 in private funds to support the White House Conference on Child Health and Welfare in 1930.
Hoover’s name became synonymous with the poverty of the era. Elaborate. What are Hoovervilles and Hoover blankets
The shantytowns built and populated by the homeless quickly earned the nickname “Hoovervilles,” and “Hoover blankets” referred to the newspapers the homeless used to keep warm.
Throughout 1931 and 1932, businesses trying to stay afloat sharply cut worker wages. What did workers do in response to this
In response, workers protested with strikes and demonstrations.
One of the most notable protest movements occurred toward the end of Hoover’s presidency in the spring of 1932. What happned in this protest
In this protest, some 15,000 World War I veterans calling themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force, or Bonus Army, marched on Washington, D.C. They were demanding early payment of their veteran bonuses, which were not due to be paid until 1945. The group camped out in vacant federal buildings and set up a Hooverville-like tent camp near the U.S. Capitol.
Why did Hoover order police to empty the vuilding and clear out the camps?
Many veterans remained in the city in protest for nearly two months, although the U.S. Senate officially rejected their request in July. By the middle of that month, Hoover wanted them gone. He ordered the police to empty the buildings and clear out the camps.
What happened when the police arrived
In the exchange that followed, police fired into the crowd, killing two veterans.
What did Hoover doin repsone to the ploice killing 2 officers
Fearing an armed uprising, Hoover ordered General Douglas MacArthur, along with his aides, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton, to forcibly remove the veterans.
Fearing an armed uprising, Hoover ordered General Douglas MacArthur, along with his aides, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton, to forcibly remove the veterans. What was this raid like
The raid that followed proved disastrous. The military burned down the shantytown and injured dozens of people, and Americans bore witness to photographs and newsreels of the U.S. Army forcibly removing veterans. Hoover’s popularity plummeted even farther.
