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This informative article discusses the policies and actions of Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt during the Great Depression. It covers topics such as the stock market crash, Hoover's struggle with the depression, and FDR's election and presidency.
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The Policies of Presidents Hoover & Roosevelt The Great Depression
What do you see here? What message does the billboard send? Describe the area surrounding the billboard. When do you think the billboard was created? What irony is there in this photograph? The Postwar Economic Boom
Describe what you see. • What building do you see? • Who are the people on the ground? On the building? • What does this represent about stockbrokers during this period?
Where is this occurring? What are the people doing?
Describe what you see • Who does the sign blame for their problems? • How does this make you feel towards Hoover?
Election of 1928Hoover (Republican) vs. Smith (Democrat) • Hoover: Pro-business, conservative, belief in the individual, advocate of small federal government, Protestant-Laissez • Smith: Democrat, pro- public health, workers’ compensation, civil liberties, government control of some industries, Catholic • Hoover won! • Voters believed prosperity of the 1920s was because of the Republican party
6 months after election the stock market crashed = worst depression in American History
Hoover Struggles with the Depression Philosophy: • Hoover opposed any form of federal welfare, or direct relief to the needy. • Handouts would weaken a person’s “moral fiber.”People had to help themselves = Rugged Individualism • Relief, he thought, should come from private organizations. • Hoover’s philosophy angered and frustrated many suffering Americans.
Hoover’s Radio Address on Unemployment Relief No governmental action, no economic doctrine, no economic plan or project can replace that God-imposed responsibility of the individual man and woman to their neighbors. That is a vital part of the very soul of the people. If we shall gain in this spirit from this painful time, we shall have created a greater and more glorious America. The trial of it is here now. It is a trial of the heart and conscience, of individual men and women. . . . (October 18, 1931) 1. Who does Hoover believe should help Americans during the Depression? 2. Why do you think he believes this? 3. What “painful time” is he talking about? 4. Imagine you are unemployed as a result of the Great Depression. What are your feelings towards this statement?
Who did Hoover try to help? • By helping the wealthy, it was believed that financial health would trickle-down to help people at the bottom • Known as Trickle Down Economics • This theory did not work. Businesses used the extra money to improve their businesses instead of helping the workers.
Who did Hoover try to help? • Hawley-Smoot Tariff • Highest protective tariff in the U.S. • Designed to protect American farmers and business from foreign competition. • Pair-Share: What was a negative effect of this tariff? • It had the opposite effect – world trade fell 40%
Who did Hoover try to help? • Reconstruction Finance Corporation • $2 billion for emergency financing for banks, life insurance companies, railroads and other large businesses. • Believed the $ would trickle-down to the average citizen through job growth and higher wages. • Too little, too late
Who did Hoover try to help? • Construction of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam) • $700 million public works program
The Bonus Army • In 1932, thousands of WWI veterans marched into Washington D.C. demanding their bonuses • The bonuses were not to be paid off until 1945, but they wanted their bonuses immediately • The Patman Bill would have given the army their bonuses immediately; it did not pass • Hoover decided to forcibly remove the war veterans by using tear gas • Many people were injured, 2 killed
Anti-Hoover Sentiment • Americans grew more and more frustrated by the depression as time passed • Farmers burned their crops rather than sell it at a loss • As an insult to the president, shantytowns were dubbed “Hoovervilles, ” and newspapers that were used to keep warm were called “Hoover Blankets.” • Hoover, who was once seen as a humanitarian, was now seen as a cold and heartless leader.
Hoover’s Legacy • Hoover could not effectively deal with the Depression. • He was viewed as uncaring and unsympathetic towards the sufferings of Americans • This would eventually lead to his losing the election of 1932 to Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Election of 1932 • The Republicans re-nominated President Hoover as their candidate, yet they were aware they had little chance of winning. • The Democrats nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt, FDR, a two term governor of New York. • Roosevelt won the presidency by capturing nearly 23 million votes over Hoover 16 million votes. • In the Senate, Democrats claimed a 2/3 majority and in the House they won almost ¾ of the seats.
The Rise of FDR • 1910 Senator • Assistant Secretary of the Navy • 1921 Stricken with Polio and became paralyzed • 1928 Governor of New York
Roosevelt’s plan for fixing the Great Depression: “The New Deal” • Focus on helping Americans by offering the 3 R’s: • Relief • Recovery • Reform
Relief • The government will give direct help or relief to those who are suffering • Examples: food, clothing, shelter
Recovery • The government will provide jobs to help Americans recover from the Depression.
Reform • The government will regulate (make rules) for business • No more laissez faire
Pair-Share1. Who are the two men shown in the cartoon?2. Who does the caption refer to?3. What is the author’s opinion about FDR’s New Deal plan?
Roosevelt’s Actions • Gave “Fireside Chats” to calm people over the depression • Hired the best thinkers/problem solvers to fix the Depression (Brain Trust)
FDR’s First Fireside Chat Close Power Point and play Audio-Clip
The Bank Holiday • On March 5--the day after being sworn into office--Roosevelt stepped into the breach and declared a "bank holiday," which, for four days forced the closure of the nation's banks and halted all financial transactions. • The "holiday" not only helped stem the frantic run on banks, but gave Roosevelt time to push the Emergency Banking Act through the legislative chain. • Passed by Congress on March 9, the act handed the president a far-reaching grip over bank dealings and "foreign transactions." • The legislation also paved the path for solvent banks to resume business as early as March 10. • Three short days later nearly 1,000 banks were up and running again
Pair-Share • What are possible criticisms of the New Deal?
Wrap-Up Activity Who said it? • Directions: • A quote from either Hoover or Roosevelt will be displayed on the board. • A student will be randomly selected. • If you guess which President said the quote, you will get extra credit points!
Who Said It? Roosevelt “I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues..”
Who Said It? Hoover “No governmental action, no economic doctrine, no economic plan or project can replace that God-imposed responsibility of the individual man and woman to their neighbors. That is a vital part of the very soul of the people. If we shall gain in this spirit from this painful time, we shall have created a greater and more glorious America. The trial of it is here now. It is a trial of the heart and conscience, of individual men and women. . . .”
Who Said It? Roosevelt “It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”
Who Said It? “It is just as important that business keep out of government as that government keep out of business” Hoover
Who Said It? Hoover “No Special Session is necessary to deal with employment. The sense of voluntary organization and community service in the American people has not vanished. The spirit of voluntary service has been strong enough to cope with the problem for the past year and it will, I am confident, continue in full measure of the need.”
Who Said It? Roosevelt “But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are starving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings.”
Who Said It? Hoover “Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt”
Who Said It? Hoover “Any practice of business which would dominate the country by its own selfish interest is a destruction of equality of opportunity. Government in business, except in emergency, is also a destruction of equal opportunity and the incarnation of tyranny through bureaucracy”
