How Far Do You Agree That It Was Hoover’s Policies That Lost Him the 1932 Presidential Election?

How far do you agree that it was Hoover’s policies that lost him the 1932 Presidential election?

I strongly agree that the main reason for the overall loss of Herbert Hoover in the 1932 election against Democrat opposition, Roosevelt, was due to his failed policies and unkept promises during the Great Depression; his failed policies included: cutting taxes and introducing tariffs. Some historians, on the flip side, may go as far to say that they felt sympathy towards Hoover as he had a difficult time in presidency during the economic crisis because America was rapidly spiralling downhill after many years of laissez faire and rugged individualism. On the other hand, select historians may disagree with the statement suggesting that Hoover was the one to blame as his lack of popularity with both the voters and members in the Republican Party aforementioned meant he lost the election and that consequently, Roosevelt had an overwhelming response to the American people with his strong beliefs in progressivism and The New Deal for America.

Firstly and most importantly, Hoover predominately lost the election in 1932 because of his ridiculous policies in 1930 and 1931 to try and rescue American from The Great Depression. Everything that Hoover did just made the Depression worse. As a Republican president, Herbert Hoover followed the ideology and belief that it wasn’t the job of the president or the government to get involved in social security. As a result, many believed that his policies were weak and changed nothing for the economy which is why he was called the “Do nothing president”. By cutting taxes and introducing tariffs this tightened America’s industry and left the country short of money as countries didn’t want to buy American goods. Over supply meant that there was a greater amount of protection on US goods. The Great Depression left the economy in ruins after over 12 million people became unemployed and people going out of work was going up by 12,000 every day in 1932.Whatismore, Hoover promised an American Dream- a land full of opportunities with plenty of jobs available for people. However, in 1932 he blocked the Garner-Wagner Relief Bill, which would allow Congress to provide 2.1 billion dollars to create jobs. Cities were close to bankruptcy under the President Hoover as people were failing to pay their mortgages as the rise of unemployment rose. Many American families were forced out of their homes onto wastelands. Within a few weeks this area of land became a village of shanty houses made out of wood, cardboard and scraps of metal. Houses were named “Hoovervilles” designed to turn people against Hoover and his policies. Rugged individualism had failed massively when many families were unemployed which contrasted greatly with his ideologies of getting rid of poverty.  

It is of common knowledge that Herbert Hoover was becoming increasingly unpopular with the American people further into his presidency. Hoover had a very careless approach to his policies and in his role as president and seemed to think that the Great Depression was just a blip. In fact, he repeated several times to the American people that everything would turn back to normal soon, back to the economic boom but yet he continued to let the country down by announcing that the government wouldn’t get involved in the crisis. Furthermore, even when Hoover did try to give four billion dollars to states to relieve poverty, the government was already in debt; he was “too little, too late.” One major event that historians could argue for his unpopularity was the Bonus Army which portrayed him in a dark and cruel light. In May 1932,  20,000 ex World War One soldiers went to ask for the pay checks ($500) early as money became desperate during the Depression. The veterans were camping outside the White House and Hoover demanded that they leave as he feared violence arising. Consequently, Hoover called in the US army to destroy the camps using bayonets and tear gas. An 8 year old was killed and another 8 year old was partially blinded. President Herbert Hoover was that unpopular that he had vegetables thrown at him during his election in 1932.  Many would describe Hoover as a “forgotten man” as he appeared to not care about people struggling as he didn’t provide any direct relief and that his policies such as the Reconstruction Act proved to be too limited to cope with America’s crisis. Hoover was extremely unpopular with the voters winning only 6 states out of 48 in total of which one third of Republicans by 1932 had swapped to being a Democrat which showed no real loyalty to Hoover. Hoover’s unpopularity seemed to come for his failing policies.