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 * __Dominic Tranchitella__**

President: Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) Political Party: Republican Date of Term: March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 Vice President: Charles Curtis Overall Rating: D

Theme: During President Herbert Hoover’s presidency, the American Identity was something that was changing rapidly. Starting off Hoover’s term was a severe depression. The Great Depression was an economic crisis that was so severe its economic pains were felt across the world. There are many causes for the Great Depression, but the top five include the stock market crash of 1929, bank failures, reduction of transactions, Economic woes with Europe, and poor farming conditions. The Great Depression was a key factor in changing America’s identity, because it sparked a major turning point in America’s economy and lifestyle. Even though a third of Americans did not feel the sting of the depression, one in every four person was unemployed. Family roles were beginning to change, as wives and children became the breadwinners of the family. If it were not for the Great Depression, America would not be the country it is today. Another change came in 1931, when the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings were completed. These buildings shaped the American Identity by illustrating the fact that America was continuing to better itself. These buildings also show the American initiative to go above and beyond expectation, because people were starting to think and act bigger.

Thesis: Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States. He played a major role in WWI as a humanitarian who aided foreigners and Americans. As an engineer and a believer in the Efficiency Movement, Hoover was a man who wanted to find the problem and make a solution to go with it. This ideal later played a role in his economic decisions. Hoover’s most positive action was shown through his policies and reforms, and his most negative action came through his enactment of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act during the Great Depression. Although Hoover had America’s best intentions at heart, his plans also contributed to and worsened the Great Depression, which is why Hoover and his administration earn a grade of a ‘D’. Goals: Hoover gave his inaugural address in 1929. In his inaugural address, Hoover states how one of his main goals was to change the enforcement of prohibition. Hoover was upset with the way things were run. He managed to change that by passing the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment, eliminating the problem altogether. Another goal that Hoover had was to keep equality among business by protecting both unions and big business. Hoover was partially successful with this goal, because even though equality was maintained in the business world, the depression caused a weakening of business and the American workforce. Another goal that Hoover wanted to accomplish was to pick up and restore the faltering economy. This was a goal that Hoover failed, because the economy worsened during his presidency. The final main goal of Hoover was to continue towards world peace. This goal was not met mostly because of the hostilities that came about due to Hoover’s actions during the Great Depression, such as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. Congressional Relationship: The 71st and 72nd United States Congresses were in session during Hoover’s presidency. During both sessions, the Senate held a Republican majority. The House had a Republican majority during the 71st session, and the Democrats had the majority during the 72nd session. Hoover had a good relationship with Congress, which is shown because of the major legislations that were passed. The Agriculture Marketing Act, the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act, Revenue Act of 1932, and the Buy American Act are all examples of this. There was one piece of legislation that was not enacted, and that was Patman Bonus Bill. Positive Action: Hoover was a self-described progressive and reformer. Hoover’s most positive action was his contribution to the betterment of America, and of the world. Some of the most notable achievements that Hoover accomplished are the enabling of Al Capone’s prosecution, his preservation of wildlife reserves, closing of tax loopholes, and the Children’s Charter. Hoover enabled Capone’s prosecution through instructing the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service. He also reformed prisons during his presidency. Though Hoover did not do one big thing to help Americans, he accomplished a lot of smaller contributions. Negative Action: Hoover is often rated as one of the worst presidents in America’s history. This rating is due in part to Hoover’s actions during the Great Depression. The Great Depression had a variety of causes, and was a hard hitter to more than half of all Americans. As an instructed engineer, Hoover wanted to find the problem and use that to find the solution. Hoover was against government handouts, because he felt that handouts would create a dependency on the government that could not be remedied easily. Hoover’s thoughts against handouts led to his ideas that he thought would help restore the economy. One of the most infamous of his ideas was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which increased the American tariff. It was intended to be a protection for American-grown business, but it actually hurt the economy. This tariff would not have helped anyways, because Hoover forgot to factor the Great Depression into his decisions. The depression hurt a lot of European economies as well. Since a higher tariff was being placed, Europe placed a higher tariff in retaliation, which degraded the world economy even further. Impact: Hoover’s actions had a lasting impact on America’s future generations. Even though Hoover wasn’t the cause of the Great Depression, his actions quickened the economic depression. That in turn increased the impact that the depression had on the world economy. Hoover was unable to quench the burning fire of depression, and instead made things worse. He tried to stimulate the economy, but his policies didn’t work well with the situation at hand. As it is said, Hoover’s involvement was “too little and too late”. Conclusion: As the President that took term in 1929, Hoover was not the right man for the job. His ideals and policies were intended for the best of the country, but he was unable to properly change the country in the way he wanted. Even though he contributed positively by doing smaller things dealing with reform, his actions during the Great Depression did not help his cause. Hoover was unable to get America into a greater state than the state he left it in, which is why Hoover and his administration earn a grade of a ‘D’.

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