Answer:
President Hoover's approach to the Great Depression was heavily influenced by his belief in "rugged individualism," which is the idea that individuals should be responsible for their success or failure and that government should not be involved in helping people in need. He believed that people should take care of themselves and that government welfare programs would only lead to a culture of dependency. This led him to resist calls for more direct government intervention in the economy, instead opting for measures such as public works projects which provided employment and helped to stimulate the economy. He also refused to provide government relief payments to the unemployed, instead believing that private charities should be responsible for providing assistance to those in need.