The Depression of the 1930s marked a historic moment in which the American people suffered. The economy was in decline with increasing deaths from malnutrition and disease. Unemployment hit the nation. According to Gunderson and Cory (4), the situation worsened until the government intervened. The intervention changed the government's role in protecting the population from economic decline. Depressions provided an opportunity for the government to define its mandate and allow the people to reflect on its importance in stabilizing the economy. It is important to allow for laissez-faire leadership in the operation of government, as it was supported by the Secretary of the Treasury. Andrew Mellon. The American Depression was fought with a conservative approach, as noted by Farmer and Brian (225). Then President Herbert Hoover urged Americans to volunteer to help each other. Hoover refused to provide direct support to the American people. He failed to control businesses through taxes and never manipulated the value of currency (Hoover). Hoover never embraced socialism because he knew it would lead to it. In the following elections, Hoover attempted to convince the population that his actions were intended to strengthen the allocation rather than weaken it. This approach never worked during the Great Depression because Americans suffered more. The approach also gained cabinet support, but was unsuccessful. The strategy adopted by President Herbert led to his failure in the next election as he failed to convince the people of his action in the depression. It is important to use new strategies that will make it easier to resolve the problem. This requires the integration of an expansive approach in governance. If the conservatives are in the middle of paper......the government and society for peaceful coexistence. It is beneficial for leaders to use both approaches to solve a similar problem. The conservative and expansive approach to problem solving will ensure that enough options are considered to find the solution. I fully support the incorporation of both approaches, conservative and expansive, to solving the problem and therefore choose an intermediate position. Both approaches are necessary in their own way. Works Cited Farmer, Brian R. American Conservatism: History, Theory and Practice. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, 2005. Gunderson, Cory G. The Great Depression. Edina, Minn.: ABDO, 2004. Hoover, Herbert. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 10 7 1933. 9 12 2013 .