Student Question
Which statement about President Herbert Hoover is true?
- He was reluctant to use government action to fight the Depression
- Believed volunteerism and the American spirit would end the Depression
- Tried but failed to create a private agency to help banks
- Did all the above
Quick answer:
President Herbert Hoover is accurately described by all the statements provided. He was indeed reluctant to use government intervention to combat the Great Depression, believing in "rugged individualism" and that volunteerism and the American spirit would suffice. Additionally, he attempted, but initially failed, to create a private agency to assist banks before establishing the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Thus, option D, "Did all the above," is correct.
The best answer to this question is D. President Hoover fits all of these descriptions.
Hoover's main philosophy was that of "rugged individualism." He thought people should work to help themselves and that government should not help them because that would take way their incentive to work. It was okay for private charities to help, but the government should stay out of things. This shows that both A and B are true.
Once A and B are both true, D is the only possible answer. But we also know C is true because Hoover, before setting up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, got large banks to set up a private lending agency to help smaller banks.
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