The "Lame Duck Months" occurred between November 1932 and March 1933. This is the period of time when an old President is easing off and a new President is settling in before taking office. So, for four months, Herbert Hoover continued the govern America, even though the electors had voted against him.

Between these months, the depression grew worse. Unemployment rose to 15 million, wages were cut, strikes began in many places, transport companies went out of business, gas and electricity were cut off as power companies went bankrupt. Also, banks began closing their doors and there were long cues outside banks.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who won the election, was inaugurated on 4th March 1933. He said: "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."

Roosevelt asked Congress for emergency powers so that he could tackle the depression without everything having to be passed by Congress. He would use the 'trading with the enemy act', from World War I. Some people thought that he was acting like a dictator but he was only using board executive power, not changing the laws.