Question
In a one paragraph response, identify the ways in which President Hoover attempted to provide relief for American citizens during the Great Depression. Begin your response by referencing what Hoover believed the role of the federal government should be in society.
answer this ONLY using information I provide and no outside information
Hoover believed strongly in the spirit of American individualism: that hard work brought its own rewards. To Hoover, the very existence of American civilization depended upon the moral fiber of its citizens. He saw this in the American ability to overcome hardships through individual effort and resolve. The idea of direct government aid, what he considered to be “handouts,” was repellant to him. He didn’t like the idea. In a 1931 radio address, he said, “The spread of government destroys initiative and thus destroys character.”
In keeping with these principles, Hoover’s response to the crash focused on two common American traditions. He asked individuals to tighten their belts and work harder in the spirit of “rugged individualism.” He also asked the business community to voluntarily help sustain the economy by retaining workers and continuing production.
"Rugged Individualism"
On October 22, 1928, as Herbert Hoover’s presidential campaign was nearing its end, he laid out his views about American individualism in a speech titled “Principles and Ideals of the United States Government.” Today it is better known as his “Rugged Individualism” speech.
In the immediate aftermath of Black Tuesday, Hoover sought to reassure Americans that all was well. Even as economic conditions quickly became worse, he continued to present a positive stance to the public. For example, in 1931, he pledged federal aid should he ever witness starvation in the country. By that date, however, he still did not believe such a need existed, despite the evidence that children and the elderly were starving to death. Yet Hoover was neither intentionally blind nor unsympathetic. He simply held fast to a belief system that did not change as the realities of the Great Depression set in.
In addition to asking Americans to tighten their belts and work harder, Hoover also asked the business community to voluntarily help support the economy by continuing production and keeping employees working. He called a conference of leading industrialists to meet in Washington, DC, urging them to maintain their current wages while the nation rode out this brief economic panic. The crash, he assured business leaders, was not part of a greater downturn; they had nothing to worry about. He held similar meetings with utility and railroad companies and promised billions of dollars in new construction projects. Labor leaders agreed to withhold demands for wage increases and workers continued to labor. Hoover also persuaded Congress to pass a $160 million tax cut to bolster American incomes, leading many to conclude that the president was doing all he could to stop the panic. In April 1930, the New York Times editorial board concluded that “No one in his place could have done more.”
Look at the graph. What trends do you see in government spending over time? What does this tell you about Herbert Hoover's approach to handling the economic crisis in the early years of the Great Depression compared to later in his presidency?As previously noted, Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression was largely rooted in the idea of "rugged individualism." Providing any sort of aid directly to citizens, in Hoover's eyes, was considered a handout. He believed that such an action would not only lower morale but erode the very morals upon which the United States had been built. Instead, Hoover emphasized the importance of private volunteerism to help the impoverished. “A voluntary deed,” he repeatedly commented, “is infinitely more precious to our national ideal and spirit than a thousand-fold poured from the Treasury.”
Private relief agencies, including such organizations as the American Red Cross, Community Chest, and the Salvation Army, distributed food to the poor through soup kitchens and bread lines. In addition, Hoover signed several pieces of legislation providing funding to the states. The states, in turn, used the resources for public construction projects that would in turn create jobs. Hoover believed that such indirect aid would lead to a trickle-down effect that would put Americans back on their feet. They would not have to depend on charity from the federal government.
Through all this, Hoover’s sympathy for those in need was boundless. He refused his presidential salary, and throughout the Great Depression, he donated an average of $25,000 annually to various relief organizations to assist in their efforts. Furthermore, he helped to raise $500,000 in private funds to support the White House Conference on Child Health and Welfare in 1930. Throughout 1931 and 1932, businesses trying to stay afloat sharply cut worker wages. In response, workers protested with strikes and demonstrations. One of the most notable protest movements occurred toward the end of Hoover’s presidency in the spring of 1932. In this protest, some 15,000 World War I veterans calling themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force, or Bonus Army, marched on Washington, D.C. They were demanding early payment of their veteran bonuses, which were not due to be paid until 1945. The group camped out in vacant federal buildings and set up a Hooverville-like tent camp near the U.S. Capitol.
Many veterans remained in the city in protest for nearly two months, although the U.S. Senate officially rejected their request in July. By the middle of that month, Hoover wanted them gone. He ordered the police to empty the buildings and clear out the camps. In the exchange that followed, police fired into the crowd, killing two veterans. Fearing an armed uprising, Hoover ordered General Douglas MacArthur, along with his aides, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton, to forcibly remove the veterans. The raid that followed proved disastrous. The military burned down the shantytown and injured dozens of people, and Americans bore witness to photographs and newsreels of the U.S. Army forcibly removing veterans. Hoover’s popularity plummeted even farther. By the summer of 1932, he was largely a defeated man. His pessimism and failure mirrored that of the nation’s citizens.
answer this ONLY using information I provide and no outside information
Hoover believed strongly in the spirit of American individualism: that hard work brought its own rewards. To Hoover, the very existence of American civilization depended upon the moral fiber of its citizens. He saw this in the American ability to overcome hardships through individual effort and resolve. The idea of direct government aid, what he considered to be “handouts,” was repellant to him. He didn’t like the idea. In a 1931 radio address, he said, “The spread of government destroys initiative and thus destroys character.”
In keeping with these principles, Hoover’s response to the crash focused on two common American traditions. He asked individuals to tighten their belts and work harder in the spirit of “rugged individualism.” He also asked the business community to voluntarily help sustain the economy by retaining workers and continuing production.
"Rugged Individualism"
On October 22, 1928, as Herbert Hoover’s presidential campaign was nearing its end, he laid out his views about American individualism in a speech titled “Principles and Ideals of the United States Government.” Today it is better known as his “Rugged Individualism” speech.
In the immediate aftermath of Black Tuesday, Hoover sought to reassure Americans that all was well. Even as economic conditions quickly became worse, he continued to present a positive stance to the public. For example, in 1931, he pledged federal aid should he ever witness starvation in the country. By that date, however, he still did not believe such a need existed, despite the evidence that children and the elderly were starving to death. Yet Hoover was neither intentionally blind nor unsympathetic. He simply held fast to a belief system that did not change as the realities of the Great Depression set in.
In addition to asking Americans to tighten their belts and work harder, Hoover also asked the business community to voluntarily help support the economy by continuing production and keeping employees working. He called a conference of leading industrialists to meet in Washington, DC, urging them to maintain their current wages while the nation rode out this brief economic panic. The crash, he assured business leaders, was not part of a greater downturn; they had nothing to worry about. He held similar meetings with utility and railroad companies and promised billions of dollars in new construction projects. Labor leaders agreed to withhold demands for wage increases and workers continued to labor. Hoover also persuaded Congress to pass a $160 million tax cut to bolster American incomes, leading many to conclude that the president was doing all he could to stop the panic. In April 1930, the New York Times editorial board concluded that “No one in his place could have done more.”
Look at the graph. What trends do you see in government spending over time? What does this tell you about Herbert Hoover's approach to handling the economic crisis in the early years of the Great Depression compared to later in his presidency?As previously noted, Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression was largely rooted in the idea of "rugged individualism." Providing any sort of aid directly to citizens, in Hoover's eyes, was considered a handout. He believed that such an action would not only lower morale but erode the very morals upon which the United States had been built. Instead, Hoover emphasized the importance of private volunteerism to help the impoverished. “A voluntary deed,” he repeatedly commented, “is infinitely more precious to our national ideal and spirit than a thousand-fold poured from the Treasury.”
Private relief agencies, including such organizations as the American Red Cross, Community Chest, and the Salvation Army, distributed food to the poor through soup kitchens and bread lines. In addition, Hoover signed several pieces of legislation providing funding to the states. The states, in turn, used the resources for public construction projects that would in turn create jobs. Hoover believed that such indirect aid would lead to a trickle-down effect that would put Americans back on their feet. They would not have to depend on charity from the federal government.
Through all this, Hoover’s sympathy for those in need was boundless. He refused his presidential salary, and throughout the Great Depression, he donated an average of $25,000 annually to various relief organizations to assist in their efforts. Furthermore, he helped to raise $500,000 in private funds to support the White House Conference on Child Health and Welfare in 1930. Throughout 1931 and 1932, businesses trying to stay afloat sharply cut worker wages. In response, workers protested with strikes and demonstrations. One of the most notable protest movements occurred toward the end of Hoover’s presidency in the spring of 1932. In this protest, some 15,000 World War I veterans calling themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force, or Bonus Army, marched on Washington, D.C. They were demanding early payment of their veteran bonuses, which were not due to be paid until 1945. The group camped out in vacant federal buildings and set up a Hooverville-like tent camp near the U.S. Capitol.
Many veterans remained in the city in protest for nearly two months, although the U.S. Senate officially rejected their request in July. By the middle of that month, Hoover wanted them gone. He ordered the police to empty the buildings and clear out the camps. In the exchange that followed, police fired into the crowd, killing two veterans. Fearing an armed uprising, Hoover ordered General Douglas MacArthur, along with his aides, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton, to forcibly remove the veterans. The raid that followed proved disastrous. The military burned down the shantytown and injured dozens of people, and Americans bore witness to photographs and newsreels of the U.S. Army forcibly removing veterans. Hoover’s popularity plummeted even farther. By the summer of 1932, he was largely a defeated man. His pessimism and failure mirrored that of the nation’s citizens.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
President Hoover's approach to providing relief during the Great Depression was firmly rooted in his belief in "rugged individualism," where he prioritized self-reliance and voluntary assistance over direct federal aid. He viewed direct government intervention as damaging to the moral character and initiative of American citizens. To address the economic crisis, he encouraged individuals to tighten their belts and work harder, while urging the business community to voluntarily maintain wages and employment levels, assuring industrial leaders that the downturn was temporary. Hoover did implement measures such as signing legislation to fund state-level public construction projects, which aimed to create jobs indirectly, reflecting his belief in a trickle-down approach. Moreover, he actively supported private relief efforts through substantial personal donations and organizing funding for various charities. While his intentions were to promote self-sufficiency and volunteerism, his methods ultimately fell short in adequately addressing the pressing hardships faced by many Americans during this time.