Many Americans blamed Herbert Hoover for…

History Questions

Many Americans blamed Herbert Hoover for the Depression. Based on what you have learned, were they justified in their blame? Which statement aligns most closely with your opinion? 1) People were right to blame Hoover because he raised the tariff. 2) People were right to blame Hoover because he refused to make direct unemployment payments. 3) People were wrong to blame Hoover because he made efforts to improve the situation. 4) People were wrong to blame Hoover because some of his programs, such as the RFC, needed more time to be effective.

Answer

People were right to blame Hoover because he declined to provide direct unemployment payments. Although Hoover did take unprecedented steps by allocating 2 billion dollars to secure banks and railroads, he refrained from using federal funds for direct relief efforts. He believed that government assistance would undermine the spirit of community support and self-reliance that is essential to American values. This mindset resulted in him supporting a 45 million dollar initiative to protect livestock in Arkansas, while he opposed a much smaller 25 million dollar aid package for the state’s farmers.

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