Question
Read the following
Hoover Responds
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."
Now,
In 3 sentences, describe the Hoover administration's initial response to the Great Depression. Choose 2 examples.
(4 points)
Hoover Responds
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."
Now,
In 3 sentences, describe the Hoover administration's initial response to the Great Depression. Choose 2 examples.
(4 points)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The Hoover administration's initial response to the Great Depression was characterized by an optimistic outlook and a call for voluntary cooperation from the business community. For example, Hoover urged industrial leaders to maintain wages and production levels while reassuring them that the economic downturn was temporary. Additionally, he advocated for a $160 million tax cut to boost American incomes, which led many to believe he was taking significant steps to alleviate the crisis.