AMH2020 - The Great Depression Analysis

• Format: Responses should be written in full sentences with academic rigor, using proper grammar and supporting arguments with evidence where applicable. Please answer each question individually and not in essay format. A large deduction will occur if it is not formatted properly.
• Length: Each question should be answered in approximately 100–150 words, ensuring thorough engagement with the topic.
• Cite Sources in MLA

Questions:

1. Causes of the Great Depression
   Analyze the possible causes of the Great Depression. To what extent could a stock market crash of the intensity 1929 occur again in America?
   • Consider economic factors, investment behaviors, and any modern parallels that could inform your response.
2. Pre-Crash Confidence and Irrational Investing
   Why did people feel so confident before the stock market crash of 1929? What were some factors that led to irrational investing?
   • Explore the mindset, cultural attitudes, and external conditions that fostered confidence and led to risky investments.
3. Herbert Hoover’s Response
   Why was Herbert Hoover’s response to the initial months of the Great Depression so limited in scope?
   • Assess Hoover’s political philosophy, the limitations of his approach, and the broader governmental context that shaped his initial response.
4. Cultural Reflection and Reassurance
   How did the cultural products of the Great Depression serve to reflect, shape, and assuage Americans’ fears and concerns during this volatile period? How do our cultural products—such as books, movies, and music—reflect and reinforce our values in our own times?
   • Examine how art, literature, and media during the Great Depression provided both reflection and relief, and draw connections to how contemporary cultural products influence our values.
5. Shifts in Perception and Identity
   To what extent did the Great Depression catalyze important changes in Americans’ perceptions of themselves, their national identity, and the role of their government? What evidence of these shifts can you find in the politics and values of our own times?
   • Consider the psychological and ideological impacts of the Depression, and provide examples of how these shifts persist today.
6. Blame and Fair Assessment of Herbert Hoover
   Why is Herbert Hoover so often blamed for the Great Depression? To what extent is such an assessment fair or accurate?
   • Discuss the fairness of Hoover’s reputation in relation to the Depression, taking into account his actions, public perception, and the expectations placed on his administration.