Why was Herbert Hoover's response to the initial months of the Great Depression so limited in scope?

Because he wanted to intervene as little as possible

Explanation:

Herbert Hoover was a president who believed in the free market, that is, in his view the government should interfere as little as possible with companies and private banks. So initially President Herbert Hoover chose not to intervene. Meanwhile, with the escalating damage from the crisis, the president has taken some punctual measures to combat the Great Depression, such as providing minimal social assistance and regulating the market. However, Hoover also took measures that worsened the Great Depression, such as raising taxes and increasing tariffs. As a consequence, other nations also impacted by the crisis have adopted measures of protectionism, worsening the situation of international trade and the economy as a whole.