BellringerBellringer

• What is a “Hooverville?”What is a “Hooverville?”• Who “rode the rails” to seek a better Who “rode the rails” to seek a better

life?life?• What was the 1What was the 1stst feature-length feature-length

animated film?animated film?

Chapter 22Chapter 22The Great Depression The Great Depression

BeginsBegins

Section 3Section 3

Hoover RespondsHoover Responds

Promoting RecoveryPromoting Recovery

• Hoover held a series of conferences Hoover held a series of conferences bringing together the heads of bringing together the heads of banks, RR, big business, labor, and banks, RR, big business, labor, and gov’t.gov’t.

• He received pledges from industry He received pledges from industry to keep factories open and stop to keep factories open and stop cutting wages.cutting wages.

Voluntary Efforts and Voluntary Efforts and Public WorksPublic Works

• The pledge failed, Hoover increased The pledge failed, Hoover increased public workspublic works – gov’t financed – gov’t financed building projects.building projects.

• Hoover asked mayors and governors Hoover asked mayors and governors to increase public works spending.to increase public works spending.

• Hoover refused to increase gov’t Hoover refused to increase gov’t spending or taxes.spending or taxes.

The Midterm ElectionThe Midterm Election

• Americans blamed the Republicans Americans blamed the Republicans for the Depression.for the Depression.

• As a result, midterm elections in As a result, midterm elections in 1930, Republicans lost 49 seats and 1930, Republicans lost 49 seats and their majority in the House of Rep.their majority in the House of Rep.

Trying to Rescue the Trying to Rescue the BanksBanks

• Hoover tried to persuade the Fed. Hoover tried to persuade the Fed. Reserve Board to put more money Reserve Board to put more money into circulation.into circulation.

• Set up the National Credit Corp Set up the National Credit Corp (NCC), which created a pool of (NCC), which created a pool of money to rescue banks, but it wasn’t money to rescue banks, but it wasn’t enough to help.enough to help.

Trying to Rescue the Trying to Rescue the BanksBanks

• 1932 – Reconstruction Finance 1932 – Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) – made loans to Corporation (RFC) – made loans to banks, RR, and agricultural banks, RR, and agricultural institutions.institutions.

• The RFC was too cautious and the The RFC was too cautious and the economy ctd. to decline.economy ctd. to decline.

Direct Help for CitizensDirect Help for Citizens

• Hoover opposed the fed. gov’ts Hoover opposed the fed. gov’ts participation in relief – money that participation in relief – money that went directly to poor families.went directly to poor families.

• He felt relief was the responsibility of He felt relief was the responsibility of the state and local gov’t.the state and local gov’t.

• 1932 – Congress passed the 1932 – Congress passed the Emergency Relief and Construction Emergency Relief and Construction Act to get money for public works Act to get money for public works and for direct relief.and for direct relief.

In An Angry MoodIn An Angry Mood

• Discontentment led to violence.Discontentment led to violence.• During a hunger march in 1931, During a hunger march in 1931,

police denied the protestors food, police denied the protestors food, water, and medical treatment.water, and medical treatment.

• Congress intervened, stressing the Congress intervened, stressing the marchers right to petition the gov’t.marchers right to petition the gov’t.

Farmers RevoltFarmers Revolt

• B/w 1930-1934, creditors B/w 1930-1934, creditors foreclosedforeclosed, or took possession of, , or took possession of, almost a million farms.almost a million farms.

• Some farmers destroyed their crops, Some farmers destroyed their crops, hoping the reduction in supply hoping the reduction in supply would cause the prices to go up.would cause the prices to go up.

The Bonus MarchersThe Bonus Marchers

• 1924 – Congress enacted a $1000 1924 – Congress enacted a $1000 bonus to paid to veterans in 1945.bonus to paid to veterans in 1945.

• In 1931 a bill was introduced in the In 1931 a bill was introduced in the House that authorized early payment House that authorized early payment of the bonus.of the bonus.

• In 1932 the In 1932 the “Bonus Army”“Bonus Army” marched marched to Washington D.C., to ask Congress to Washington D.C., to ask Congress to approve the legislation.to approve the legislation.

The Bonus MarchersThe Bonus Marchers

• Hoover refused to meet with the Bonus Hoover refused to meet with the Bonus Army, and the Senate voted new bonus Army, and the Senate voted new bonus bill down, some marchers left.bill down, some marchers left.

• Some marchers stayed, moving into Some marchers stayed, moving into deserted buildings in Washington D.C.deserted buildings in Washington D.C.

• When Hoover ordered the buildings When Hoover ordered the buildings cleared, disputes b/w the remaining cleared, disputes b/w the remaining people and the police (and later the people and the police (and later the army) resulting in several deaths.army) resulting in several deaths.