The Great Depression

1013 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Herbert Hoover's role in the Great Depression

I've always been a man who believes hoping a bad situation will "fix itself", should never be the solution to said dilemma. President Herbert Hoovers policy on "voluntarism", as opposed to Presidential elect, Franklin Roosevelt’s policy on government funding to improve the maladies of the distressed U.S citizen; would have deterred me as a voter, for republican re-election. Additionally, I can indubitably see myself as an advocate for the common mans plight (no matter what class I belonged to); rather than Herbert Hoover’s tenet on helping big business, in hopes that in turn they would help out their employees. Also, the high tariffs placed on foreign imports during the Hoover administration would have contradicted with my views of foreign policy, which are, "help ourselves by helping others"; undoubtedly Herbert Hoover forgot his "prime the pump" strategy when it came to financial trade with Europe. Roosevelt’s "New Deal" accompanied by his 3 R's (relief, recovery, and reform), favor what I think the country needs at this period in time. It’s time for a new direction, one that involves immediate financial action for the common citizen; I vote for Roosevelt.

When you think of President Hoover, you unfairly although not without good reason, think of Hoovervilles, Hoover blankets, Hoover flags, etc. Herbert Hoover wasn't a bad president, when he took office; the United States was still reaping the benefits of the roaring twenties. The Great Depression hit rather suddenly, but Herbert Hoover’s policy on "rugged individualism" didn't ease the pains felt by the many homeless Americans who needed immediate relief; instead he chose to aid business's first by establishing the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Corporations pr...

... middle of paper ...

...t helped spread jobs for unemployment; and it also gave laborers the right to organize and choose their own representatives.

In conclusion, my reasons for voting for Franklin Roosevelt are clear, he objected to voluntarism, supported the people rather than business, advocated for a lower tariff; and enticed the people with needed reforms expressed through the "New Deal". Herbert Hoover was a victim of unpredictable unfortunate events, in the years leading up to, and post World War 1, he shined as a very passionate humanitarian, and intelligent economic strategist. In times of hardships it's easier to lay the blame on one rather than all, and if i had lived in those times i undoubtedly would have felt the same way as the rest of the nation. I quote President Truman’s philosophy, "the buck stops here"; the responsibility lies within the oval office.

Show More
Related

  • Roosevelt Vs Hoover Essay

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Herbert Hoover was sworn into office when the economic status of the country stood at its highest and the nation was accustomed to a prosperous way of living. When the stock market plummeted and took its toll on the citizens from coast to coast, it was out of his control. The approach however that was taken to deal with the matter is what will ultimately separate Hoover and Roosevelt when the debates to categorize the greatest and worst presidents the nation has seen begin. Hoover was known for false promises as he would speak optimistically to his audience and never deliver. The people began to resent his words knowing they would all fall through eventually. Roosevelt in his inaugural address knew the people were tired of hearing speeches that never pulled through and only spoke with truth as he stated:

    Read More

  • The New Deal Dbq Analysis

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Herbert Hoover, elected as president in 1928, was a president who was not actively involved with the lives of the people in his country. His

    Read More

  • Herbert Hoover, One of the Worst Presidents in American History

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    Because of the plague known as the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover is often seen as one of the worst presidents in American history. He enacted policies such as the Hawley-Smoot Tariff that flushed America deeper into the depression. Hoover didn't understand that to solve a crisis such as a depression, he needed to interact directly with the people by using programs such as social security and welfare. Instead, Hoover had the idea that if he were to let the depression run its course, it would eventually end. There are three things that can be used to define Hoover's presidency during the depression, his actions, his mentality toward fixing things, and the fact that he helped pave the way for the “New Deal”

    Read More

  • Review of "SInce Yesterday"

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hoover is also vilified repeatedly for his inaction with the Depression. His personal policy and his party’s policy were designed to let the country find its own way, for if it became dependent on government aide, it would be a weaker nation that if it found it’s own way. This was a flawed assumption on their behalf though, because even in the 1920’s, there was a movement from many of the nation’s younger voters advocating change.

    Read More

  • The New Deal Dbq Essay

    1467 Words  | 3 Pages

    Franklin D. Roosevelt once asserted “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people,” in belief for a change, for a better nation, and for guidance to those who have lost all faith in humanity. During the Great Depression, The United States faced many different scenarios in which it caused people to doubt and question the “American Dream.” The Great depression began in 1929 and ended in 1939. In these ten years, people went through unemployment, poverty, banks failed and people lost hope. President Herbert Hoover thought it wasn’t his responsibility to try and fix such issues in the nation. He felt it was just something that everyone was facing and it will be over soon enough. However, years passed and nothing seemed to

    Read More

  • Presidents of the 1930s

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1930s were a very rough time for most people. These were hard times because of the Great Depression and the Stock Market crash. The Presidents of the 1930s were Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Both of these Presidents came from different backgrounds and had the responsibility of trying to help people through the Great Depression. The two Presidents of the 1930s, Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt were faced with many problems during America’s Great Depression and had very different approaches at solving them. Franklin Roosevelt was favored by many and Hoover was looked down on by most of America’s people.

    Read More

  • Down And Out In The Great Depression

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the start of the Depression, many letters (mostly discouraging) were sent to President Hoover. These letters came primarily from well-to-do citizens, however some leftist workers’ letters found their way in as well. The well-to-do citizens agreed that the ultimate cause of the lower classes’ depression was their laziness and incompetence. On top of that, these well-to-do citizens thanked Hoover, probably because their money had gone unscathed (McElvaine, 38). Some opinions weren’t as favorable for the Hoover administration, however. Some people believed that “engineers may be intelligent but poor presidents” (pp. 43). Finally, the leftist parties did not appreciate the endeavors of the Hoover presiden...

    Read More

  • Roosevelt and Hoover DBQ

    1437 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Great Depression hit the United States while Hoover was serving his first and only term as president. In the end, the public saw Hoover as a man who began his presidency as a liberal, but who’s beliefs began to resemble those of a conservative towards the end of his term. The Progressive Age had come to an end by 1910 and big business thrived as Harding, Coolidge, an...

    Read More

  • The Great Depression

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Great Depression was one of the most severe economic situation the world had ever seen. It all started during late 1929 and lasted till 1939. Although, the origin of depression was United Sattes but with US Economy being highly correlated with global economy, the ill efffects were seen in the whole world with high unemployment, low production and deflation. Overall it was the most severe depression ever faced by western industrialized world. Stock Market Crashes, Bank Failures and a lot more, left the governments ineffective and this lead the global economy to what we call today- ‘’Great Depression’’.(Rockoff). As for the cause and what lead to Great Depression, the issue is still in debate among eminent economists, but the crux provides evidence that the worst ever depression ever expereinced by Global Economy stemed from multiple causes which are as follows:

    Read More

  • The Great Depression

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    October 29th, 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression, a depression that forever changed the United States of America. The Stock Market collapse was unavoidable considering the lavish life style of the 1920’s. Some of the ominous signs leading up to the crash was that there was a high unemployment rate, automobile sales were down, and many farms were failing. Consumerism played a key role in the Stock Market Crash of 1929 because Americans speculated on the stocks hoping they would grow in their favor. They would invest in these stocks at a low rate which gave them a false sense of wealth causing them to invest in even more stocks at the same low rate. When they purchased these stocks at this low rate they never made enough money to pay it all back, therefore contributing to the crash of 1929. Also contributing to the crash was the over production of consumer goods. When companies began to mass produce goods they did not not need as many workers so they fired them. Even though there was an abundance of goods mass produced and at a cheap price because of that, so many people now had no jobs so the goods were not being purchased. Even though, from 1920 to 1929, consumerism and overproduction partially caused the Great Depression, the unequal distribution of wealth and income was the most significant catalyst.

    Read More

  • The Great Depression

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Great Depression was a period, which seemed to go out of control. The crashing of the stock markets left most Canadians unemployed and in debt, prairie farmers suffered immensely with the inability to produce valuable crops, and the Canadian Government and World War II became influential factors in the ending of the Great Depression.

    Read More

  • Roosevelt a Liberal and Hoover a Conservative

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    As Document A suggests, Hoover did not want to be considered completely laissez-faire. He seemed less determined to preserve the extremely capitalistic society of the 1920's which was run, often corruptly, by political machines, such as Tweed. However, the success of the American economy under the private interest beliefs of Harding and Coolidge required him to ensure that the lack of intervention ... ... middle of paper ... ...ca afloat as shown in Document D. Roosevelt immediately gained the public's favor with his liberal ideas.

    Read More

  • Great Depression And The Dust Bowl Essay

    970 Words  | 2 Pages

    Talking about what the government did to help was a touchy subject because American citizens thought the government drew them into the Depression. During the first year of Hoover’s presidency, the economy was booming. Most people thought the economy was fine until Hoover came in. He was a very intelligent war vet who helped stabilize the economies. He also begged shops to rehire/ open the factories for workers, but they could not because they could not pay the employees. Hooverville was a “town” where the homeless lived and tried to help eachother out. Hoover asked Americans to give to charity, but even with the wealthy could not close the huge gap. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt beat Hoover in the election with 472 electoral votes (88.9% of the votes). Americans thought with the new president everything would start to look up. Roosevelt in his first 100 days passed “16 major pieces of legislation” (also known as The New Deal). The New Deal was an “attempt to relieve social and economic suffering of Americans” ). Roosevelt also tried to inform people as much as he could with speeches, and that made Americans feel better about their situations. Roosevelt, in his speeches says inspiring things such as, “The Nation asks for action, and action now.” (Roosevelt). Both presidents tried to help in anyway possible, but it depends on who you ask on rather it really helped or

    Read More

  • Great Depression Compare And Contrast Essay

    1412 Words  | 3 Pages

    But for the majority of the country during one of our toughest times, he was what we needed. Without consulting history, it’s impossible to judge what he did very negatively. The old ways weren’t working, and while President Hoover tried to do something, it wasn’t enough. President Roosevelt was more successful with the actions he took for relief during the Great Depression. References: EyeWitness History editors.

    Read More

  • The History of Freedom

    1666 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... they were able to receive shorter work hours, the right to free speech and overall better working conditions. These changes were just the beginning of what would be a whole new sense of freedom for the working American people.

    Read More

More about The Great Depression

Open Document