Final answer:
President Hoover began by emphasizing American individualism and minimal government intervention, but later established the RFC and passed the Emergency Relief Act, which were deemed too late and limited to effectively mitigate the Great Depression's impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hoover Administration's initial response to the onset of the Great Depression involved a philosophy of American individualism, which eschewed significant government intervention in the economy. President Hoover encouraged Americans to recover through their own efforts and promoted voluntary business actions to address economic issues. However, as the crisis deepened, Hoover's strategies evolved, and he established the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), which aimed to stabilize financial institutions by providing government-backed loans. The administration also passed the Emergency Relief Act to invest in local public works projects. Despite these measures, the response is often regarded as insufficient and late, failing to provide immediate relief to the affected population.