Answer:In 1929-1930, America and President Hoover were dealing with several major issues, including the economic effects of the stock market crash, rising unemployment, and a sharp decline in agricultural prices. These issues were collectively known as the Great Depression, and they had a profound impact on the country.
As a former engineer and successful businessman, Hoover was known for his expertise in solving complex problems and his belief in the power of individual initiative and self-reliance. However, his engineering background turned out to be a detriment to his success as president during the Great Depression.
One reason for this is that Hoover was often overly optimistic about the ability of technology and private enterprise to solve economic problems. He believed that the market would eventually correct itself and that the government should not intervene too heavily in the economy. This led him to resist calls for direct government relief programs and to focus instead on encouraging businesses and individuals to take action to address the economic crisis.
Another reason why Hoover's engineering background was a detriment to his success during the Great Depression is that he tended to view the crisis as a technical problem that could be solved through rational analysis and scientific methods. This approach overlooked the complex social and political factors that were contributing to the crisis, such as deep-seated inequalities and the inability of many Americans to participate fully in the economic system.
In addition, Hoover's belief in individual initiative and self-reliance led him to place too much emphasis on voluntary efforts to address the crisis, such as private charity and business cooperation. This approach proved inadequate in the face of the scale and severity of the economic crisis, and ultimately contributed to a deepening of the depression and a loss of confidence in Hoover's leadership.
Overall, while Hoover's engineering skills and background may have been an asset in other contexts, they were a detriment to his success as president during the Great Depression. His overreliance on technical solutions, his resistance to government intervention, and his emphasis on individual initiative and self-reliance all contributed to a worsening of the economic crisis and a loss of faith in his leadership.