Hoover’s Hoover’s PoliciesPolicies

1928 newspaper campaign for Republicans

“a chicken in every pot”

Hoover as Hoover as PresidentPresident

Lacked political Lacked political experienceexperience

lacked support from his lacked support from his party (R)party (R)(D) took control of House (D) took control of House mid-presidencymid-presidency

Hawley-Smoot Hawley-Smoot TariffTariff

Raised duty on Raised duty on agricultural materialsagricultural materials

Highest protective tariff Highest protective tariff in peacetime!in peacetime!

Hawley-Smoot Tariff Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930)(1930)

Economists urged Hoover not to Economists urged Hoover not to sign itsign it

Hoover signed it anywayHoover signed it anyway25 nations restricted trade w/ US25 nations restricted trade w/ US

Raised their tariffs as responseRaised their tariffs as response Impact on int’l trade Impact on int’l trade

catastrophiccatastrophic

Hoover & the Hoover & the FarmersFarmers

Income cut by more than Income cut by more than half from 1929 to 1932half from 1929 to 1932

Farm Board tried buying Farm Board tried buying surpluses, but it didn’t surpluses, but it didn’t helphelp

Farmers were encouraged Farmers were encouraged to plant lessto plant less

Boulder DamBoulder Dam

Hoover DamHoover Dam http://nevada-history.org/boulder_ca

nyon_project.html

Too little, too lateToo little, too late

Federal Home Loan Bank ActFederal Home Loan Bank ActSpur new home constructionSpur new home constructionReduce foreclosuresReduce foreclosures

Emergency Relief and Construction Emergency Relief and Construction ActActFunds for public works progsFunds for public works progsReconstruction Finance Corp.Reconstruction Finance Corp.

made loans to RR, insurance companies, made loans to RR, insurance companies, banks, state & local gov’tsbanks, state & local gov’ts

Why not just aid the Why not just aid the people?people?

Hoover felt direct aid to the Hoover felt direct aid to the unemployed would…unemployed would…Weaken their self-respectWeaken their self-respectUndercut the efforts of charityUndercut the efforts of charityDestroy responsibility of the Destroy responsibility of the unfortunateunfortunate

Hoover relied on Hoover relied on volunteerism!!!volunteerism!!!

The Depression The Depression WorsensWorsens

Employment Employment CutsCuts

Hours were cutHours were cutWages were cutWages were cutMood was gloomyMood was gloomy1932: 30,000 companies 1932: 30,000 companies closedclosed

1931: 800 banks failed1931: 800 banks failed

Major Mood Major Mood ChangeChange

People lost confidencePeople lost confidenceHesitated to try new Hesitated to try new thingsthings

Stock market droppedStock market dropped

Food was scarceFood was scarceFarmers had more Farmers had more than they could sellthan they could sell

Food prices droppedFood prices dropped

Effect on SocietyEffect on SocietyBusiness leaders cut Business leaders cut wages (against wages (against agreements not to)agreements not to)

Hourly wages in US Hourly wages in US Steel Company cut up Steel Company cut up to 60%to 60%

Effect on SocietyEffect on SocietyAvg family income droppedAvg family income dropped1930:1930: 4 million unemployed 4 million unemployed1933: 12 mill unemployed!1933: 12 mill unemployed!Bank runs Bank runs BreadlinesBreadlines & soup kitchens & soup kitchens in citiesin cities

Effect on SocietyEffect on SocietyLots of business closedLots of business closedFamilies were being evictedFamilies were being evicted

Some lived in “Hoovervilles”Some lived in “Hoovervilles”"Hoover blanket" - old newspaper used as "Hoover blanket" - old newspaper used as blanketingblanketing

"Hoover flag" - an empty pocket turned inside out"Hoover flag" - an empty pocket turned inside out"Hoover leather" - cardboard used to line a shoe"Hoover leather" - cardboard used to line a shoe"Hoover wagon" - an automobile drawn by horse"Hoover wagon" - an automobile drawn by horse

Homelessness was ubiquitous Homelessness was ubiquitous

The Bonus ArmyThe Bonus ArmyMay 1932: 1500 May 1932: 1500 unemployed Army unemployed Army veterans marched on veterans marched on D.C.D.C.

Set up HoovervillesSet up Hoovervilles20,000 protestors total20,000 protestors total

The Bonus ArmyThe Bonus ArmyHoover provided them Hoover provided them w/ suppliesw/ supplies

Congress rejected Congress rejected demandsdemands

Most left, but 2,000 Most left, but 2,000 refused to gorefused to go

The Bonus ArmyThe Bonus ArmyWhen the police failed to When the police failed to stop it, Hoover called in stop it, Hoover called in the armythe army

MacArthur burned down MacArthur burned down the campthe camp

Many Americans blamed Many Americans blamed Hoover for everythingHoover for everything

Fears of Fears of RevolutionRevolutionRiot insurance made availableRiot insurance made available

Socialists & Communists Socialists & Communists preached the Depression as preached the Depression as the the end of capitalismend of capitalismFought w/ each otherFought w/ each other

Majority of US still wanted Majority of US still wanted capitalismcapitalism

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ_lizW5zSI