rugged individualism

Cultural  

1. The belief that all individuals, or nearly all individuals, can succeed on their own and that government help for people should be minimal. The phrase is often associated with policies of the Republican party and was widely used by the Republican president Herbert Hoover. The phrase was later used in scorn by the Democratic presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman to refer to the disasters of Hoover's administration, during which the stock market Crash of 1929 occurred and the Great Depression began.

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Example Sentences

Officials said there are "a number of organisations standing ready to assist individuals seeking legal guidance on immigration matters".

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2025

The Arc is an organization founded in the 1950s to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024

This addition could assist individuals in meeting their daily protein requirements more effectively.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024

“These funds were intended to assist individuals and businesses who were impacted by the economic downfall of the pandemic,” Brown said.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 7, 2023

Hicks warned Tuesday that the state’s tax collections are expected to weaken without another round of federal aid to assist individuals and businesses.

From Washington Times • Nov. 10, 2020