Question
In 3–5 sentences, describe the Hoover administration's initial response to the Great Depression. Choose 2 examples. using the text
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.”
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.”
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
In response to the Great Depression, President Hoover initially focused on reassurance and voluntary cooperation rather than direct intervention. For instance, he pledged federal aid in the event of starvation but failed to recognize the dire conditions many Americans were facing, such as hunger among children and the elderly. Additionally, Hoover convened leaders from various industries, urging them to maintain wages and production to combat the economic downturn, asserting that the situation was merely a temporary panic. Despite these efforts, his reluctance to adapt his beliefs to the worsening realities limited the effectiveness of his measures.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!