Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression: Key Events and Policies

What was Herbert Hoover's campaign promise in the 1928 election?

To bring prosperity to the country and happiness to homes through a businesslike approach to governance.

What was Hoover's approach to the economy during the Great Depression?

He wanted a limited federal role and believed the economy would recover on its own.

What term describes the makeshift camps for the unemployed during the Great Depression?

Hoovervilles

What was the unemployment rate in the early 1930s?

25%

What economic conditions led to the stock market crash of 1929?

An unevenly distributed economy, an overheated market, and excessive use of credit.

What event is referred to as 'Black Tuesday'?

The stock market crash on October 29, 1929.

What was the immediate effect of the stock market crash on banks?

Banks began to withdraw loans and some went bankrupt, leading to a loss of consumer confidence.

What was the 'Bonus Army' and what did they demand?

WW1 veterans who marched on Washington, D.C. demanding early payment of bonuses.

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff intended to do?

To protect American agriculture and industry by imposing high tariffs on foreign goods.

What was the Dust Bowl and when did it occur?

A severe drought in the mid-1930s that devastated the Great Plains.

What was the impact of the Dust Bowl on migration patterns in the U.S.?

Many people moved to cities and the West Coast, especially California, seeking better living conditions.

What was the significance of the economic growth in the 1920s followed by the Great Depression?

It highlighted the fragility of the economy, which was marked by a stock market boom that was unsustainable.

How did World War I affect the global economy leading up to the Great Depression?

It distorted economies, particularly in Germany, which faced massive reparations and economic instability.

What role did consumer confidence play in the Great Depression?

As consumers lost faith in the economy, they stopped spending, leading to business bankruptcies.

What was the outcome of the 'bank runs' during the Great Depression?

Depositors lost their savings as banks failed due to mass withdrawals.

What were the political implications of the Bonus Army's march?

It led to political violence when the Hoover Administration ordered police to disperse the veterans.

What were the conditions in Europe during the early 1930s?

Italy was under fascist rule, and Nazi Germany was rising, causing concern in America about potential dictatorship.

What did the term 'robber baron opinion' refer to in Hoover's approach?

The belief that the economy should be allowed to collapse and rebuild itself without government intervention.

What was the relationship between credit use and the Great Depression?

Many consumers bought on credit without understanding it, leading to financial instability when the market collapsed.

What did Herbert Hoover do to maintain optimism during the early years of the Depression?

He tried to reassure Americans that the economy was sound and would improve.

What did Hoover claim about the financial world two weeks after the Crash?

He stated that it was functioning normally and more easily, with lower interest rates and more capital available.

What was Hoover's view on the impact of the stock market crisis on production activities?

He believed the crisis was isolated to the stock market and had not extended into the production activities of the country.

What concept did Hoover promote as a response to the economic challenges during his presidency?

'Rugged Individualism', emphasizing self-reliance and the American system over centralized government.

What were some of the limitations of state relief efforts during the Great Depression according to Hoover?

Relief was often limited to food and fuel, with little support for rent, shelter, medical care, or clothing.

What actions did public-service workers take to help alleviate poverty during the Great Depression?

Police officers and schoolteachers contributed a percentage of their salaries for poor relief.

What demographic changes occurred in family life during the Great Depression?

Birth rates fell, school and college drop-outs increased, and many children became homeless.

How did the Great Depression affect African American unemployment rates?

African American poverty and unemployment were at double and triple the rates of white Americans.

What types of food became common during the Great Depression due to scarcity?

Water pie, vinegar pie, and dandelion salad.

What was the significance of the NYC breadline in February 1932?

It highlighted that even wealthy and educated individuals were experiencing poverty.

What was the situation in Chicago in February 1931 regarding poverty?

It was similar to NYC, with many people facing severe economic hardship.

What was Hoover's perspective on the psychological effects of the stock market crash?

He viewed the effects on production as purely psychological.

What did Hoover suggest would happen to the bond and mortgage market after the stock market crisis?

He believed there would be a resurgence in the bond and mortgage market due to the release of capital.

What backlash did mothers and wives face when entering the workforce during the Great Depression?

They faced opposition from employers who believed jobs should go to unemployed men.

What was the estimated number of homeless children during the Great Depression?

As many as 200,000 children were made homeless.

What event marked the beginning of the Great Depression?

The stock market crash in October 1929.

What significant financial crisis occurred in Spring 1933?

A severe bank crisis with rapidly accelerating bank runs and loss of faith in the financial system.

What was the unemployment rate during the Great Depression?

Approximately 25%.

Which political party gained popularity during the Great Depression?

The Communist Party, due to its criticism of capitalism.

What was a common sentiment among working-class Americans during the Great Depression?

Many were just trying to survive and demanded jobs, with some organizing multiracial marches against discrimination.

What was the outcome of the 1932 Presidential Election?

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, marking a shift in faith from Hoover to the Democratic Party.

What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's relationship to Theodore Roosevelt?

FDR was Teddy Roosevelt's distant cousin.

What major health issue did Franklin D. Roosevelt face?

He suffered from polio, which left him almost completely paralyzed from the waist down.

What was the New Deal?

FDR's response to the Depression, aimed at economic recovery and restoring faith in democratic capitalism.

What was the immediate goal of the New Deal?

To get the economy running again and restore Americans' faith in democratic capitalism.

What significant change occurred in presidential election terms after FDR's presidency?

The Constitution was amended to limit presidents to two elected terms.

What was the purpose of the Emergency Banking Act?

To increase government supervision over banks.

What did the Glass-Steagall Act prohibit?

It prohibited banks from gambling with ordinary depositors' money.

What is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)?

An agency that insures bank deposits.

What was the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)?

To put young men to work on public projects.

What did the Public Works Administration (PWA) focus on?

Building infrastructure, such as dams.

What was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) established for?

To build dams and generate electric power in the South.

What was the Agricultural Adjustment Act/Administration (AAA) designed to do?

To protect farmers and raise crop prices.

What significant social change did the New Deal coalition represent?

A moment when the political parties began to switch their bases of support.

When was Prohibition ended?

In December 1933.

What was the total amount spent on new reforms under the WPA?

$11 billion

What were the Fireside Chats?

Roosevelt's radio show that allowed the public to feel closer to the president.

What is the logic behind the New Deal?

Spending money leads to new money in circulation, increased demand, new investment, plant expansion, new jobs, and new profits.

What significant act did Hoover pass in 1932?

The Banking Act of 1933, which protected what banks could do with customer money.

How many elections did Roosevelt win?

Three elections.

What was the New Deal Coalition?

A coalition of supporters including blue-collar workers, white southerners, racial and religious minorities, intellectuals, and labor unions.

What major social program was created during the New Deal?

Social Security.

Why did Black Americans initially support the Republican Party?

Because Lincoln, a Republican, emancipated the slaves.

What was considered the most important achievement of the New Deal?

Creating jobs and rebooting the economy.

What was one of the long-standing achievements of the New Deal related to rural areas?

Providing electricity in rural areas.

What was a key critique of the New Deal?

The belief that the population shouldn't be equal.

What did some critics believe would have restarted the economy instead of the New Deal?

World War II.

What was the political climate like in the 1950s regarding the Democratic Party?

It was a non-democratic age with only one Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

What was the impact of the New Deal on trust in the presidency?

It helped rebuild trust in the president.