Why Did Roosevelt Defeat Hoover In the 1932 Presidential Election?

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Why did Roosevelt defeat Hoover in the 1932 Presidential election?

Cassandra Owen

The 1932 Presidential election was fought between Franklin Roosevelt of the Democrats and Herbert Hover of the Republicans.

In 1932 America was suffering from depression. Banks and businesses were closing every day and unemployment was soaring.

People supported Roosevelt because of many reasons. One reason was that they had lost their jobs. Many of America’s industrial plants lay idle. Five thousand banks had closed. Factory owners had been forced to close down. In 1929 six hundred and fifty banks were declared bankrupt. One hundred and ten thousand companies closed between 1929 and 1932. By 1933 industrial production was halved, by this time over fifteen million were unemployed.

Another reason why people supported Roosevelt was that they were in debt. Farmers got into debt by buying more livestock to help them bring in more money and losing out on crops. People had to borrow more money to try to get themselves out of debt they were already in. For example, the Ricketts who got into four hundred dollars debt to buy mules. The mules died so they borrowed more money for inferior mules. It was a viscous cycle.

Also people supported Roosevelt because they were poor. Crops rotted in the fields, not worth taking to market. Cattle and pigs were slaughtered wholesale for there was no money to buy them, or pay for their feed. For ten consecutive years the Ricketts had lived on so little rations. They hadn’t cleared a cent at the end of the year. Life was sustained by begging, eating at the city soup kitchens or earning a quarter by polishing a car, enough to bring home bread and bacon.

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Many people lived in shantytowns named Hoover Ville, in houses made of tin cans and packing boxes. Any money they earnt was quickly took away, re-paying debts.

People were homeless; this was another reason why people supported Roosevelt. By 1932 well over a million Americans were completely homeless and ended up in shantytowns/Hoover Ville. Many people were simply tramping the highways seeking food and work.

Probably the most important reason why people supported Roosevelt was that he gave them hope. During the depression he became known as a humane and effective administrator. His most notable achievement was the creation of ...

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