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FDR's Presidency: 1933-45 :blue_heart: - Coggle Diagram
FDR's Presidency: 1933-45 :blue_heart:
Background
He had a great influence on the role of the Fed gov in relation to the american economy and society, nature role and power of the american presidency, the democratic party and post world war and america's role in it
He was born to a wealthy family in new york and studied law at harvard- but he was sympathetic to the less privelliaged, perhaps because he contracted polio in 1921 which left him paralysed from the waist down
Married his distant cousin Elenor Roosevelt
He as assistant to the secretary of the navy
Seen as one of the greatest american presidents, he revolutionised the role of the federal government and he left a legacy in social security, minimum wage, regulation of banks, large scale fed intervention in the economy and society
Significance of the New Deal
increased the social and economic role of fed gov
even hoover admitted Lassiez faire era was dead- FDR killed off rugged individualism
Some businessmen and upper class americans resented the redistribution of wealth, others feared ND opened door to socialism and others considered him insuffiently radical and proposed more left wing solutions
Won 60.8 % of the vote in 1936
american gov became a highly active participant in the nations social and economic life
created new post war political consensus; 1944 republican platform supported extension of the new deal's security measures like pensions for the elderly and unemployed benefits. + businessmen accepted gov should play a role in managing the economy
From Rugged Individualism to New Deal ideas
He was unique among governors in introducing large scale public relief and public work programmes
He promised american's a 'new deal' and they got it, contrast between his republican predecessors was illustrated by New deal legislation passed in FDR's first 100 days
when he was elected 25% of the workforce remained unemployed and 12% of farmers had lost their land, factories weren't working, and thosands of banks failed or closed
Congress passed legislation that tried to solve the overproduction problem by paying farmers to produce less, regulating banks + the stock exchange, and aimed to revitalise industry, create jobs and provide direct relief for the unemployed + elderly
A changing presidency
was more of a people person than harding who conducted his campaign from his front porch and coolidge dressed up as a native american chief
even in bad health, his open top limo did a 4 hour election procession through new york city where 3 million spectators saw his trademark cheery wave in the rain
ensured that public would only see him standing or sat in a car- apart from twice. 1- when he opened a new building at howard university in 1936 and he was told by the university president that black students would be inspired by watching their president overcome adversity so he was pictured lifted from his car and walking slowly and painfully to the plat form. 2- allowed his secret service man to push him in a wheelchair through a ward in a military hospital where patients had lost legs in 1944
had good relationship with the press where he was relaxed, humerous, friendly and frequently direct + special relationship with the public using direct radio broadcasts to explain in everyday lanuage his policies- 'known as fireside chats'- first president to speak so directly and his voice was authorative but friendly
when he gave an important speech on foreign policy at 9pm on 29/12/1940, all public places like restaurants and cinemas were empty because people wanted to hear him
75% of americans listened to or read his words
his whitehouse mailroom has 70 workers, compared to 1 under hoover + roosevelt received avg 4000 letters a day, some hostile but most respectful and greatful