Hoover's Program

Hoover’s Program to end depression:

Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31^st President of the United States. Hoover attempted to end the Depression by presenting many options. Some of the policies he set forth included Mexican Repatriation. This was basically the deportation or removal of Mexicans and Mexican Americans that were seen as taking up American Jobs. Another act was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. This act raised the tariffs on imported items. The government thought that this would encourage the purchase of American made products but this backfired because the Depression was spread throughout the world and not just America. Other countries also increased the tariff on American goods and therefore the Depression got worse. By the 1930s the Depression increased globally. Unemployment rates in the United States were over 24%, many Americans were homeless and began living in areas called “Hoovervilles”. These were named after President Hoover because of the American public’s disappointment with the government. Hoover then approved the Federal Home Loan Bank Act. This act would help lower mortgage rates, start new construction and decrease foreclosures. This act helped a little bit, but most thought it was too late. In his final attempt, Hoover set in place the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. This would provide loans to banks, railroads, and farmers. Hoover’s efforts helped President Roosevelt continue the mission of ending The Great Depression with his plan called the New Deal.

The reaction of the American’s to Hoover’s program to end the Depression wasn’t a really bright and enthusiastic one. People were frustrated that they were homeless and could not feed or dress their children. Most Americans were out of jobs and would do anything to obtain jobs. American’s wanted to see change and they were not seeing any results fast enough. They lost their confidence in their government.

The Hoover New Deal of 1932. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mises.org/rothbard/agd/chapter11.asp

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