Final answer:
Hoover's loss to Roosevelt in the 1932 election was largely due to his perceived inaction and resistance to direct government aid during the Great Depression, contrasted with Roosevelt's promise of change and relief.
Step-by-step explanation:
Herbert Hoover's defeat by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election was largely due to the public's discontent with Hoover's handling of the Great Depression.
The criticism of Hoover was based on the perception that he was resistant to offering direct government aid to alleviate the suffering of the populace. Shantytowns, derogatively called 'Hoovervilles,' became emblematic of the era's poverty.
Hoover's policies of 'rugged individualism' were overshadowed by the pressing needs of Americans for relief and economic support, which Roosevelt promised to address with his ideas for change.
Roosevelt's vigorous campaign, which effectively communicated his message of optimism and intention for a new deal for the American people, contrasted with Hoover's morose and ineffectual public appearances.