Compare and contrast the responses of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D Roosevelt to the Great Depression.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Hoover and Roosevelt in terms of responses to the Great Depression, referring to both throughout. Candidates may refer to the actions taken by each president during their term of office. For similarities, both presidents thought government should take some action, but at different levels of government and in different quantities. Both provided aid to banks and industry, and both offered public works programmes. In contrast, Hoover’s responses were much smaller and less effective; whereas Roosevelt’s were much larger, and, at least temporarily, more effective. Candidates might add that Hoover’s responses were limited because he thought the economy would correct itself, whereas Roosevelt felt government intervention was necessary. Both similarities and differences must be clearly indicated, but there does not need to be an equal number of each.