Question

What role did herbert hoover play in the great depression

Answer 1

President Herbert Hoover is often associated with the Great Depression due to his policies that were seen as inadequate to address the crisis. Despite efforts like the RFC and tax cuts, his commitment to American individualism and limited government intervention led to substantial criticism and his eventual electoral defeat in 1932.

Step-by-step explanation:

Herbert Hoover's Role in the Great Depression

Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, played a significant role during the Great Depression. Contrary to his belief in rugged individualism and minimal government intervention, he implemented measures such as the expansion of public works programs, asked Congress to pass a $160 million tax cut, and created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to issue loans to businesses. However, these policies were insufficient to combat the escalating economic crisis. Hoover's delayed reaction and limited scope of assistance, along with his inability to provide direct relief to Americans, led to his reputation as a president who failed to adequately address the severity of the Depression. The growing unemployment, bank failures, and industrial decline contributed to his unpopularity, culminating in a landslide defeat in the 1932 election.

Despite his efforts, Hoover's adherence to his individualistic philosophy and his reluctance to enact significant governmental intervention were seen as contributing to the length and depth of the economic downturn. His presidency is often synonymous with the onset of the Depression, though it should be noted that he did not cause the stock market crash nor the initial economic decline. The scale of the crisis surpassed the capacity of his policies to provide meaningful relief, leading to the opinion that he did not respond effectively to the urgent needs of the American people during this critical time.

Answer 2

Herbert Hoover was the President of the United States from 1929 to 1933, which was the period that encompassed the onset and much of the duration of the Great Depression. While Hoover did not cause the Great Depression, his policies and actions in response to the economic crisis have been widely criticized for exacerbating and prolonging the suffering of Americans.

Hoover believed in the concept of "rugged individualism" and felt that the economy would eventually recover if businesses and individuals were left to their own devices. He resisted calls for direct government intervention in the economy, instead relying on voluntary cooperation between businesses and charities to provide relief to those affected by the Depression.

However, Hoover's approach was largely ineffective at stemming the tide of the economic crisis. His policies, such as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which raised tariffs on imported goods, led to decreased international trade and further economic decline. Additionally, his efforts to balance the federal budget by cutting spending and raising taxes likely contributed to the severity of the Depression.

Overall, Hoover's response to the Great Depression was seen as inadequate and he was soundly defeated in the 1932 presidential election by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who advocated for a more active role for the federal government in addressing the economic crisis.