There was great tension between pro-slavery and anti-slavery representatives over how new territories won would handle the issue of slavery.
The Mexican-American War and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, forced onto the remnant Mexican government, drew some criticism in the U.S. for their casualties, monetary cost, and heavy-handedness. Furthermore, the question of how to treat the new acquisitions also intensified the debate over slavery and in many ways inflamed it, as potential westward expansion of the institution took an increasingly central and heated theme in national debates preceding the American Civil War.
preached a philosophy of self-help, racial solidarity and accomodation. he urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity
The Hoover quote shows that his approach to the Great Depression is one of no hope. Hoover tried to implement a couple federal works projects (like the Hoover Dam) to kick start the economy. This limited government role is thanks to Hoover's belief in laissez faire economics, which revolves around the idea that government should be involved as little as possible in the economy. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why Hoover does not give direct financial assistance to American citizens.
FDR, on the other hand, believed that the government should help in times of crisis. FDR uses this concept and develops the "New Deal." This "New Deal" is a policy in which the federal government creates several different agencies and programs to help American citizens recover from the Great Depression. This "can do"attitude reflects his determination and ties into the aforementioned quote.