Answer: Herbert Hoover became increasingly unpopular during the Great Depression for several reasons. When the stock market crashed in 1929 and the economy began to decline, Hoover initially believed that the economic downturn was a temporary setback that could be resolved through individual initiative and voluntary actions. He believed in a philosophy of limited government intervention and encouraged businesses and individuals to maintain a positive outlook and continue investing in the economy.
However, as the Depression continued to worsen, Hoover's policies proved inadequate in addressing the scale and severity of the economic crisis. Unemployment skyrocketed, banks failed, and businesses closed, causing widespread suffering and hardship for millions of Americans.
One of the main criticisms of Hoover was his apparent unwillingness to take more aggressive action to address the Depression. He was criticized for his slow response to the crisis, his reluctance to provide direct relief to those affected by the economic downturn, and his insistence on balancing the federal budget at a time when deficit spending was needed.
Hoover's attempts to stimulate the economy through public works projects and other initiatives were seen by some as too little, too late. Moreover, his policies were perceived as being more focused on protecting the interests of businesses and the wealthy rather than addressing the needs of ordinary Americans.
Overall, Hoover's perceived lack of empathy and his inability to respond effectively to the economic crisis made him increasingly unpopular with the public, and he was widely criticized for his handling of the Depression. This ultimately led to his defeat in the 1932 presidential election, which saw Franklin D. Roosevelt elected on a platform of more interventionist government policies aimed at addressing the crisis.