Hardship and Suffering during the Hardship and Suffering during the DepressionDepression

Hoover's Response Hoover's Response

* Rejected direct relief as undermining * Rejected direct relief as undermining to character and rugged individualism to character and rugged individualism

* Urged Americans to turn to community and * Urged Americans to turn to community and church resources (Salvation Army, Community church resources (Salvation Army, Community Chest, Red Cross) to meet needs of the poorChest, Red Cross) to meet needs of the poor

Hoover Gradually used federal agencies to address Hoover Gradually used federal agencies to address issues issues

* Met with business and labor leaders to reduce layoffs * Met with business and labor leaders to reduce layoffs and and strikes strikes

* Financed federal work projects, such as massive dams in * Financed federal work projects, such as massive dams in the West (Boulder, Hoover, and Grand Coulee) the West (Boulder, Hoover, and Grand Coulee)

3. Set up RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation) in 1932 to 3. Set up RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation) in 1932 to make loans to stimulate economy in a "trickle-down" make loans to stimulate economy in a "trickle-down" manner The corporation was authorized to loan money to manner The corporation was authorized to loan money to banks, railroads and other institutions. banks, railroads and other institutions.

4. Raised tariffs 33% by signing the Hawley-Smoot Tariff in 4. Raised tariffs 33% by signing the Hawley-Smoot Tariff in

attempt to keep foreign goods off the U.S. market.attempt to keep foreign goods off the U.S. market. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPVyieptwA

The Bonus ArmyThe Bonus Army 10,000 to 20,000 World War I Veterans 10,000 to 20,000 World War I Veterans

& families& families– Support the Patman BillSupport the Patman Bill

Authorize the government to pay a bonus to Authorize the government to pay a bonus to WWI vetsWWI vets

This bill would allow the early payment of the This bill would allow the early payment of the bonusbonus

The bill was defeatedThe bill was defeated– Many left DC, some remainedMany left DC, some remained

Hoover ordered the Army to remove themHoover ordered the Army to remove them Violence and injury was a result as well as Violence and injury was a result as well as

public outragepublic outrage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSC1lbfXfRQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSC1lbfXfRQ

Early Days of the Early Days of the DepressionDepression

Early Days of the Early Days of the DepressionDepression

Bonus ArmyBonus Army

Bonus ArmyBonus Army

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

The Dust The Dust BowlBowl

The Dust The Dust BowlBowl

Dust BowlDust Bowl

The worst man-made ecological disaster in the US to date.

Caused by severe drought combined with farming methods, 'Great Plow-Up’, Wheat boom of the 20s that did not include crop rotation.