1. Government’s response to the Great Depression. 31 st President of the United States is Herbert C. Hoover. Elected in 1928 Republican Former Secretary of Commerce

2. Hoover’s Early Response Believed the depression would be short and it would fix itself like other depressions had Believed in letting local and state government help the poor. Believed charity organizations should help people not the federal government. (Red Cross) Believed in “Rugged Individualism” (people should help themselves)

3. Action Hoover eventually took 1. Set up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) 2. Set up the Federal Farm Board 3. Set up the Public Works Projects 4. Passed the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act

4. 1. Set up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) Loan money to businesses to keep them going Keep people working

5. 2. Set up the Federal Farm Board Buy farm surplus so farmers can earn money

6. 3. Set up the Public Works Projects Uses government money to build roads, parks & dams These projects will employ people

7. 4. Passed the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act Tax on imports Americans buy American goods Foreign goods cost too much

8. Peoples Response Too little too late Bonus Army march on Washington 1. Hooverisms:  Hoovervilles (shanty towns)  Hoover blankets (newspaper beds)  Hoover flags (empty pockets)

9. The Election of 1932 A Time for a change Hoover is out & Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected President. Promises people A “New Deal”

10. Answer questions in your notebook 1. Why were people upset with President Hoover’s response to the economic troubles the country was experiencing? 2. If you were President Hoover what would you have done differently to combat the Great Depression?