Question

one project that did help was the boulder dam, a huge dam on the colorado river. still, economic difficulties increased, the country turned against hoover. in the 1930 elections, the democrats gained more seats in congress. farmers burned crops and dumped milk rather than sell it for less than it cost them to produce it. people called the shantytowns that sprang up \hoovervilles.\ despite public criticism, hoover stuck to his principles.
hoover met with bankers, businessmen, and labor leaders. he urged them to work together to help improve the economy. he asked employers not to fire workers or to lower their pay. he asked labor leaders not to ask for higher pay or to strike.

1. what did hoover think government should do in bad economic times?

hoover takes action (page 481)
what did hoover do?
hoover did not offer direct aid to the poor. but he did worry about the suffering of the american people. he took some steps to use the government to improve the economy.
hoover used the boulder dam project as a model of how the federal government could encourage cooperation between private groups. he tried to help farmers with the federal farm board, and banks by creating the national credit corporation. another program tried to raise the prices farmers received for their crops. hoover also urged bankers to join a credit organization. it gave loans to banks that were in danger of failing.
by 1931, the economy had not improved. congress passed the federal home loan bank act. this law lowered mortgage rates. congress hoped that low mortgage rates would help farmers change the terms of their mortgages. this would help protect their farms from foreclosure.
hoover also created the reconstruction finance corporation. the rfc provided money for projects to create jobs.
hoover became less popular with the public. his popularity fell even more in 1932 when world war i veterans came to the capital. these veterans had been promised bonuses to make up for their poor wartime pay. congress was about to vote on a bill to give the veterans their bonuses so they wouldnt have to wait for their money.
thousands of veterans and their families came to washington. this so - called bonus army set up tents to live in near the capitol building. hoover first sent the veterans food. but after the bonus was voted down in congress, hoover told the veterans to leave. about 2,000 stayed. hoover ordered the army to remove them. the sight of u.s. army troops using tear gas on citizens outraged many people.

1. what actions did hoover take to improve the economy?

skillbuilder
use the cartoon to answer these questions.

1. what does this cartoon suggest most americans felt about hoover and the depression?
2. do you think that view of hoover is justified?

in this cartoon, a circle of americans all point their fingers at president hoover. credit: reprinted from the albany evening news, june 7, 1931, with permission of the times union, albany, new york.
146 chapter 14 section 3

Explanation:

Sub - question 1: What did Hoover think government should do in bad economic times?

From the text, Hoover met with bankers, businessmen, and labor leaders, urging them to cooperate to improve the economy. He didn't offer direct aid to the poor but took steps to use the government to encourage private - group cooperation (like using the Boulder Dam project as a model), help farmers and banks through specific organizations, and asked employers not to fire workers or cut pay and labor leaders not to ask for higher pay or strike. He believed the government should encourage cooperation among private groups (bankers, businessmen, labor leaders) and take indirect steps to improve the economy rather than direct aid to the poor.

1. Used the Boulder Dam project as a model to encourage cooperation between private groups.
2. Tried to help farmers with the Federal Farm Board and banks by creating the National Credit Corporation.
3. Urged bankers to join a credit organization (which gave loans to failing banks).
4. Congress (under his related efforts) passed the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (lowered mortgage rates to help farmers avoid foreclosure).
5. Created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to provide money for job - creating projects.
6. Asked employers not to fire workers or lower their pay and labor leaders not to ask for higher pay or strike.

The cartoon shows a circle of Americans pointing their fingers at Hoover with the text "BLAME IT ON HOOVER". This suggests that most Americans felt that Hoover was to be blamed for the Great Depression. They held him responsible for the economic hardships they were facing during the Depression.

Answer:

Hoover thought the government should encourage cooperation among private groups (bankers, businessmen, labor leaders), take indirect steps (like using the Boulder Dam project as a model, helping farmers and banks through organizations) to improve the economy, and ask employers not to fire workers/cut pay and labor leaders not to ask for higher pay/strike, rather than offering direct aid to the poor.

Sub - question 2: What actions did Hoover take to improve the economy?