electonn – PLAN
Introductonn
There were many reasons for Hoover’s failure to win the presidental electon in 932: his
policies (and those of the republican party), his reluctance to help people afer the all
Street Crash, and the fact that when he did decide to ignore the republican policy of rugged
individualism and put in place schemes to help people who were struggling, it was too litle
too late. However, it is clear that the main reason for his failure was the appeal of
Roosevelt, his opponent which can be seen through the ways in which people gained or lost
hope as a result of each factor.
LONG TERM POLICIES – Rugged Individualism
- Less popularity for it afer the all Street Crash
o Millions unemployed and unable to fnd work – began to look for help from
the government
o 25% of the workforce was unemployed by 932 (millions of voters…)
- In practce, it didn’t work
o More crime – government spent money on this rather than ending poverty
o Poor had no economic role because they weren’t consumers
HOOVER’S FAILURES
He began to see that something needed to be done
- Encouraged businesses to employ more
o They couldn’t aford to so sacked more instead
- Increased tarifs on imported goods to help American manufacturers
o Other countries did the same so Americans found it hard to export their
goods abroad
- Encouraged thriving businesses to help failing ones
o This doesn’t work because big businesses thrive of of the failure of others
(only $ 0 million was spent of the $500 million budget)
- Bonus Army marches
o Hoover sent in soldiers and police to stop the protests. People were angry at
how the war veterans were treated and the veterans were angry that they
didn’t get their bonuses.
HOOVER’S HELP – too litle too late
- Set up the President’s Emergency Commitee for Employment to help people fnd
work projects
o The schemes were overwhelmed with the number of the unemployed
o He spent $5 billion and only got $2 billion in tax – massive debt
- Federal Home Loan Bank Act
o Helped people struggling with their mortgages