Herbert Hoover's BeliefsHerbert Hoover beliefs contrasted the beliefs of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoover believed in the concept of laissez faire, to leave businesses alone, as manifested in this quote from Herbert Hoover's inauguration speech, "'The election has again confirmed the determination of the American people that regulation of private enterprise and not Government ownership or operation is the course rightly to be pursued in our relation to business'" (History Matters). Hoover concluded that the only way for businesses to succeed was if the government had little involvement as possible. Furthermore, Hoover also believed in the idea of rugged individualism, that all individuals can succeed on their own, with minimal government help, as evidenced by this quote, "' Our people have in recent years developed a new-found capacity for cooperation among themselves to effect high purposes in public welfare. It is an advance toward the highest conception of self-government. Self-government does not and should not imply the use of political agencies alone. Progress is born of cooperation in the community—not from governmental restraints'" (History Matters). Hoover determined that leaving American citizens alone to fend for themselves and make their own way out of the economic crisis was the most efficient way to end the depression. Overall, Herbert Hoover believed that if the government essentially did nothing to end the Great Depression, the economic crisis would resolve itself.
Herbert Hoover's Presidential Campaign |
Herbert Hoover's Actions and InactionsHerbert Hoover clearly believed in letting the people fend for themselves, however, since the economy crashed, Hoover had worked ceaselessly trying to fix it. He founded government agencies, encouraged labor harmony, supported local aid for public works, fostered cooperation between government and business in order to stabilize prices, and struggled to balance the budget. Although Hoover made a valiant effort to end the economic crisis, his attempts were not enough. Hoover failed to listen when people begged for increased federal intervention and spending. Hoover refused to involve the federal government in forcing fixed prices, controlling businesses, or manipulating the value of currency (History "Herbert Hoover").
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