Hoover vs. FDR

Hoover Struggles with the Great Depression

In 1928, President Hoover campaigned on the slogan “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.”

After the stock market crashed, he said “any lack of

confidence in the economic future is foolish.”

He preached “business as usual.”

How Did Hoover Try To Help?

Instead of having a “hands-off” government approach to economics, Hoover switched to a more activist role Supported the creation of the Federal Farm Board

Aimed to control crop prices Try to get banks to establish a National Credit

Corporation Less bankruptcy

These did not help……

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND GET INVOLVED IN THE ECONOMY?

HOOVER VS. ROOSEVELT:THE 1932 PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTION

Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt

VS.

LEARNING TARGETS

1. Compare and contrast the plans of Hoover and Roosevelt.

2. Determine who the best candidate is for the United States.

HOOVER’S PLAN

“Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”

Hard work earns rewards Faith in American business Gov’t should stay out of trying

to fix the economy Private charities should help

the people (salvation army / YMCA)

Ask farmers to limit production

No handouts from the gov’t (direct relief)

Limited loans to businesses / farmers / people to pay their mortgages

ROOSEVELT’S PLAN

“New Deal”—gov’t programs will help the people (social security, works projects)

You have to spend money to make it out of the depression

Gov’t provides jobs and basic needs

Reform the banks and stock market

Try different programs—act now!

Complaints

Complaints about Hoover:

1. He was not helping the American people enough

2. His statements (bootstraps) were not popular with the people

3. He kept promising things to get better but under his presidency, they never did.

Complaints about Roosevelt:

1. Too many programs that cost too much money

2. People didn’t need to be as accountable for their own actions.

3. Some liberals believed he wasn’t doing enough.