FREE Hoover Dam Essay (original) (raw)

For citizens by the tumultious effects of the Great Depression, the Hoover Dam project provided two essentials that were in short supply: work and housing. At the project's start those who were lucky enough to be hired on as laborers were forced to hunker down, families and all, in a dry and barren spot called Ragtown. In 1928, congress passed the Boulder Canyon Project Act, which authorized construction of what was originally called "Boulder Dam," now known as "Hoover Dam." Boulder Dam or Hoover Dam's construction began in 1931, with the last concrete poured in 1935. With the remote location of the Dam, and difficult working conditions, the government's contractor was hired. The contractors were called "Six Companies, Inc." (Six large American contractors merged to form this large company.) Construction and engineering interests were eager to leave their stamp upon the finished product. They were weary, though, of the five-million dollar performance bond the government was demanding from whomever was awarded the contract. That staggering amount seemed to pose a financial risk beyond the means of any one construction company. The coming together of what became Six Companies is a story of the melding of ambitions of maverick individuals, each driven by a desire to transform the emerging West. Each of them knew that success of this project would allow them to step out of from the shadow of Eastern financiers and industrialists. The idea to form one company out of a union of various construction and engineering firms came from Harry Morrison of the Morrison-Knudsen construction firm of Boise, Idaho. Morrison had forged a profitable working relationship with Utah Construction and decided they, too, should be in on the Black Canyon, as it was called at the time, project. Once the players were in place and the requisite performance bond funds were available, all attention turned to the submission of a winning bid.

1. The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam, which stands at 726 feet, was the world's tallest dam at the time of it completion in 1935. ... This massive dam was the idea of President Herbert Hoover. The structure's name was changed from Boulder Dam to the Hoover Dam in honor of him. ... The Hoover Dam generates more than 4 billion kilowatt-hours a year, which is enough power to serve 1.3 million people. ... The total cost of the Hoover Dam was $165 million. ...

2. Herbert Hoover

Hoover Hebert Hoover was born on August 10th 1874, in West Branch, Iowa, to Jesse Clark Hoover and Huldah Minthorn Hoover. ... Hoover held that position for seven years In that seven years Hoover helped extend activities in foreign trade. ... In 1931, Hoover's last year as president, Hoover dam started being built. ... During the construction of the dam, 94 construction workers and 2 government employees were killed from stuff like falling debris to falling off the dam. When the dam was completed it was called Hoover dam after Hoover but when Roosevelt became president its name wa...

3. Rossevelt and Hoover

Herbert Clarke Hoover started off with nothing in life. ... Hoover began a series of building projects including Boulder Dam which was renamed Hoover Dam in his honour. Hoover was the natural choice to succeed Calvin Coolidge as president. ... Hoover did not like the government to take too much control of business. ... But this was too little too late because Hoover lost the presidential election to Franklin D. ...

4. Hoovers Administration

By the end of Hoover's term in office unemployment rates had sky rocketed and left 12 to 14 million without jobs, and the supply of money was scarce and only getting worse (Encyclopedia Americana: Herbert Hoover 1-2). ... Hoover then started federal work projects such as the Coulee Dam and the Hoover Dam, which provided many jobs for people, but the Great Depression was much bigger than a few extra job openings could fix (The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, 5-24). ... Hoover wanted to wait and think. ... Hoover's administration had a great effect on the Great Depression. ... Hoo...

5. Nevada During World War II

The World War II era also had an impact on Nevada's gaming as well as fear of attack on the Hoover Dam. ... Another aspect of Nevada during World War II is the idea that the Hoover Dam was to be attacked. ... By 1939, reverberations from the escalating war directly reached remote Hoover Dam" (Pfaff np). Eventually, it was discovered that a real attack on Hoover Dam had been planned. ... The construction of the Hoover Dam also helped boost Nevada's demand for workers. ...

6. The great depression

The great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930s despite president Hoover's efforts. ... The deepening depression essentially coincided with the term in office of President Herbert Hoover (1929-1933). President Hoover tried hard to make the times better for the unemployed first by setting aside almost $800 million for public works like the now Hoover Dam. ... The election of 1932 made it clear that the American people were unhappy with Hoover. ... President Hoover with his early attempts did not improve the conditions of the country. ...

7. The Basics of Green Energy

The Department of Energy explains the hydropower as " Hydropower technologies generate power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water". ... Most type of hydroelectric power uses a dam on a river. ... An example of a hydroelectric system is the Hoover Dam. ... Hoover Dam is 726ft high and 1244ft long. The dam generates 4.2 billion KWH. ...

8. Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip

When the need for someone to oversee a major humanitarian issue arose, Truman called on former president Herbert Hoover, who was so successful that Truman undid what had been done by FDR, "On April 30, 1947, Truman undid one of FDR's more egregious slights against Hoover. He signed a bill restoring Boulder Dam's original name: Hoover Dam. The gesture moved Hoover greatly" (pg 144). " There was also, as earlier mentioned, a few thing that took place that were hard to understand and one that was downright disturbing. Hoover took to the new media airwaves to become the first ex presid...

9. President Roosevelt and the New Deal

Many public roads, buildings and dams (such as Hoover Dam) that are still used today were erected by work programs during the New Deal. ... President Herbert Hoover was not doing much to help his struggling nation. ... When the 1932 presidential elections rolled around, Hoover found himself up against Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), who promised a "new deal" that would turn the country around. ...

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