Name______Date______Period_____

PRESIDENT HOOVER’S RESPONSE TO THE

Statement of Inquiry: Economic scarcity causes changes in the role of government and its relationship to society.

President had to deal with the worst economic event in American history. He was greatly concerned about the millions of unemployed Americans, but felt that the government should not be directly involved in business. Instead, he asked business leaders to keep workers employed and he called upon private charities to develop soup kitchens to feed the hungry. Hoover did not believe the Great Depression would last. In fact, he predicted it would end in sixty days. He was wrong.

As conditions worsened, Hoover continued to take a laissez-faire approach - believing that the federal government should play a minimal role in dealing with the crisis. He did set up some public works programs. These programs involved the government hiring workers to build schools, construct dams and pave highways. He mostly believed, however, that relief efforts should be handled at the local and state level – NOT by the federal government.

1. What views did Hoover have about government’s role in helping Americans during the Great Depression? ______2. Do you agree with this approach? Explain. ______In spite of Hoover’s efforts, the Depression worsened. Unemployment increased from 3 million in 1929 to 9 million in 1931, and to 13 million in 1932. That meant that one out of four Americans (25%) was unemployed, and many who had jobs worked only part of the day or two or three days a week. As the crisis worsened, Hoover continued to insist that things were not that bad, that “the worst was behind us.” Many Americans were angered by this and blamed Hoover for doing too little.

Americans used ironic humor to show their dislike for Hoover. They gave the name Hoovervilles to the shacks where the homeless lived. They also had other “Hooverisms” to describe their live of poverty, such as…

“Hoover blanket” = newspaper used to keep warm at night “Hoover flag” = empty, outstretched pocket (showing they had no money) “Hoover hog” = small rodents, like squirrels or rabbits, that would be captured for food “Hoover leather” = cardboard that would be used to plug the “Hooverville,” 1932 holes in people’s shoes

We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover From the 1977 Broadway musical “,” based on a comic strip from the Great Depression.

Today we're living in a shanty 3. Summarize the message this song is sending Today we're scrounging for a meal Today I'm stealing coal for fires about Herbert Hoover. Who knew I could steal? ______

I used to winter in the tropics ______I spent my summers at the shore I used to throw away the paper— ______We don’t anymore ______We'd like to thank you: Herbert Hoover For really showing us the way ______We'd like to thank you: Herbert Hoover ______You made us what we are today ______Prosperity was 'round the corner The cozy cottage built for two ______In this blue heaven ______That you gave us Yes! ______We're turning blue!

They offered us Al Smith and Hoover 4. Quote at least two specific lines in the song that We paid attention and we chose Not only did we pay attention support this message. Explain each line in your We paid through the nose. own words. In ev'ry pot he said "a chicken" But Herbert Hoover he forgot ______Not only don't we have the chicken ______We ain't got the pot! Hey Herbie ______You left behind a grateful nation So, Herb, our hats are off to you ______We're up to here with admiration Come down and have a little stew ______Come down and share some Christmas dinner ______Be sure to bring the missus too ______We got no turkey for our stuffing We'd like to thank you, Herbert Hoover ______For really showing us the way You dirty rat, you Bureaucrat, you ______Made us what we are today ______Come and get it, Herb!

THE

While people waited for the government to help, one group of Americans took action. After , Congress had voted to give veterans a bonus to be paid in 1945. In 1932, more than 20,000 jobless veterans marched to Washington to demand the bonus right away. For two months, the Bonus Army, as the veterans were called, camped in a tent city along the Potomac River. The Senate rejected the payment of the bonus, but some of the Bonus Army refused to leave. President Hoover ordered the Military to clear out the veterans using cavalry, tanks, machines guns and tear gas. The camp was burned to the ground. After this attack on the Bonus Army, the President lost what little support he still had.

“What a pitiful spectacle is that of the great American government, mightiest in the world, chasing unarmed men, women, and children with Army tanks…If the Army must be called out to make war on unarmed citizens, this is no longer America.”

5. In your own words, summarize the events in the paragraph above. ______

6. In 1928, Hoover was fairly popular and won the presidential election easily. This drastically changed by 1932. How did economic scarcity (poverty) change people’s views of Hoover? Explain using specific evidence from your notes. ______