1932 Election and Hoover response to WSC Flashcards
How did the electorate respond to hoover?
He had few new ideas
Often greeted with eggs and tomatoes when he made speeches
Why did voters prefer FDR?
Although they had similar ideas FDR created great energy and showed compassion
Middle classes realised only he could save the US from a revolution
Results of the 1932 election
FDR reviewed 22.8 mill votes and 42/48 states
Hoover received 15.8 million and 6/48 states
When did FDR go into power
March 4th 1933
Who did the democrats choose to challenge Hoover?
FDR:
Suffered from polio
Since 1928 he had been governed of New York State and took rigorous action against the depression setting up schemes to create jobs for the unemployed using public money
How did Hoover respond to the crash?
Initially he believed the gov should stay out of business matters and believed the economy would return to normal
However upon realising the scale of the problems he pleased with businesses not to sack workers or cut pay; he set up the RFC to make loans to businesses in trouble; he encouraged states and cities to launch public work programmes to make jobs for the unemployed
Did hovers actions following the crash make a difference?
They simply weren’t big enough to impact
Some of hovers scrions made it worse such as the Hawley Smoot tarriff on imports to which other countries retaliated which made it harder for companies to export good overseas
How did the americans associated Hoover with the depression?
Used names such as Hoovervilles and hoover blankets
Who were the bonus marchers?
Mainly ww1 vets who came to DC to demand early payment of their bonus of $500 due in 1945
How did Hoover respond to the bonus marchers?
He refused to meet them and ordered the army to drive them and their families away from their makeshift camps
He claimed the men were criminals yet 65% had served in the army
This resulted in a huge loss of sympathy for Hoover
