key term - Herbert Hoover

Definition

Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933, during the onset of the Great Depression. His presidency is often characterized by his belief in limited government intervention in the economy and voluntary cooperation among businesses and citizens to solve economic problems. However, Hoover's inability to effectively address the severe economic crisis led to widespread criticism and a significant decline in his popularity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hoover took office just months before the stock market crash of October 1929, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
2. He believed that voluntary measures by businesses would help alleviate economic distress, leading him to oppose direct federal relief efforts for individuals.
3. Hoover established public works programs like the Hoover Dam to create jobs, but these efforts were seen as too little, too late.
4. The term 'Hoovervilles' arose from public discontent with Hoover's policies as many Americans lost their homes and were forced to live in makeshift communities.
5. His presidency ended with a dramatic loss in the 1932 election to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who promised a more active government role in economic recovery.

Review Questions

• How did Herbert Hoover's beliefs about government intervention influence his response to the Great Depression?
  • Herbert Hoover believed strongly in limited government intervention and felt that voluntary cooperation among businesses and individuals would resolve economic issues. This belief led him to initially resist calls for direct federal assistance to those suffering from the effects of the Great Depression. Instead, he favored measures that encouraged private charity and local solutions, which many viewed as inadequate given the scale of the crisis.
• Evaluate how public perception of Hoover changed during his presidency, particularly in relation to the economic hardships faced by Americans.
  • Public perception of Herbert Hoover drastically changed as the Great Depression deepened. Initially seen as a capable leader due to his previous successes as a businessman and humanitarian, his reluctance to provide direct federal relief contributed to growing discontent among Americans facing unemployment and poverty. As conditions worsened, phrases like 'Hoovervilles' emerged to mock his perceived ineffectiveness, ultimately leading to a significant decline in his popularity and a resounding defeat in the 1932 election.
• Analyze how Herbert Hoover's policies set the stage for Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal reforms and their impact on American society.
  • Herbert Hoover's presidency and his approach to dealing with the Great Depression highlighted significant shortcomings in federal economic policy at a time of national crisis. His insistence on limited government intervention paved the way for Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, which promised a more proactive role for the federal government in alleviating economic distress. The stark contrast between Hoover's policies and Roosevelt's reforms not only reshaped public expectations of government responsibility but also transformed American society by establishing programs aimed at providing direct relief, job creation, and financial reform.

Related terms

Great Depression:

A severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s, marked by massive unemployment and deflation.

Hoovervilles:

Shantytowns that emerged during the Great Depression, named derisively after Hoover, where homeless families lived in makeshift shelters.

New Deal:

A series of programs and reforms implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at economic recovery and social reform.