Excerpt from President Franklin Roosevelt's Radio Address “We Have Only Just Begun to Fight,” October 31, 1936
For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.
For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.
We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace—business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. . . .
Of course we will continue to seek to improve working conditions for the workers of America—to reduce hours over-long, to increase wages that spell starvation, to end the labor of children, to wipe out sweatshops. . . .
Of course we will continue our efforts in behalf of the farmers of America. . . .
Of course we will provide useful work for the needy unemployed; we prefer useful work to the pauperism of a dole. . . .
Of course we will continue our efforts for young men and women so that they may obtain an education and an opportunity to put it to use. . . .
For these things, too, and for a multitude of others like them, we have only just begun to fight.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
The excerpt BEST supports what conclusion regarding the causes of the Great Depression?
A.
A stock market collapse provoked the banking industry to stop lending.
B.
Underproduction resulted in low wages and widespread unemployment.
C.
Reckless borrowing and investment practices generated economic instability.
D.
Restrictions on investment hampered economic growth and entrepreneurship.