The Great Depression: Why Did it Happen? Hoover's Response.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/trickle-down-in-down-market.htm

Was the Great Depression really caused due to one simple stock market crash? No, it was instead caused by a cumulation of many different factors that eventually resulted in a decade long turmoil. Due to factors such as the Stock Market Crash of 1929, bank failures and the reduction in purchasing items, the economy took such a hit that it caused the unemployment rates up to 25~30% (red-highlighted area below). This period from 1929-1941 was a period that no American will ever forget because of how dramatic the effects were.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression

As president of the United States during the first four years of the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover did take actions towards reform. However, his principles were very questionable as he believed that each individual should take their own actions without government interference (free market). In addition, the idea of increasing tariffs (highest in U.S history) on imports, which was named the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 was also proven to be disastrous because it prevented trade from happening between countries. However, we can't blame Hoover for these mistakes as this was far beyond what any average human being could help recover on their own. Even so, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected on the election of 1932, but actually used Hoover's ideals with a few modifications such as putting government regulations on markets to create the New Deal. From the mistakes that Hoover made we are able to learn and prevent disasters like this from ever happening again.

http://www.intercollegiatereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/herbert-hoover-photo2.jpg

Citations:

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/greatdepression/tp/greatdepression.htm

http://tomjacobsen.tripod.com/MyLectures/lecture20depression.htm

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-great-depression-and-hoover-s-response-to-crisis