Election of 1932
Hoover’s limited strategy
1. Hawley­Smoot tariff (1930) ­ highest import tax in history ­ designed to protect American business. In response, Europeans raised their taxes, so result was a sudden slowdown in international trade. (made Depression worse)
2. Hoover wanted businesses to voluntarily agree to maintain wages (they agreed to, but didn’t) 3. Hoover wanted state and local governments to handle relief
4. did not want people to lose self­respect ­ thought “going on the dole” would cause that loss
Hoover’s unpopularity
1. people blamed him for economic slide
2. Hoovervilles
3. as Depression got worse, many started to believe that his policies (no direct aid) were wrong
­­­John Maynard Keynes ­ British economist said massive government spending could help a collapsing economy and encourage more private spending. 4. Bonus Army
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Election of 1932
“…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
1. FDR called for a “New Deal” for America
2. was ready to experiment with the role of government
3. had to deal with polio
4. even Republicans deserted Hoover
5. FDR won election by 7 million votes, and won 89% of the electoral college (all but 6 states)
6. New Deal plan included relief, recovery, and reform measures
Alphabet soup agencies ­ designed to boost economy
a.
b. WPA, CCC, NRA, FCA, FERA, etc.
Relief ­ federal govt helped overburdened local agencies. c.
d. Recovery ­ fed helped balance economy
Reform ­ change role of govt e.
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