Eleanor Roosevelt A Brief Overview

When did Eleanor Roosevelt live? born October 11,1884, died November 7, 1962. This means she was born in the Progressive Era and lived through: World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Era, Korean War, Vietnam War and the onset of the Cold War with Russia (Soviet Union)

The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920) how people respond to the economic and social problems of industrialization Believed poverty, violence, greed, racism, classism could be fixed by a good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. Local leaders like ER encouraged Americans to register to vote and fight political corruption. Progressivism gained a strong voice in the White House when Theodore Roosevelt, ER’s uncle, became president in 1901.

World War I (1914-1918) Serb assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary in 1914. Within 2 months, Austria-Hungary and Germany (the Central Powers) were at war with Russia, France, Great Britain, and Italy (the Allied Powers). America tried to remain neutral. March 8, 1915, a German submarine sank the Lusitania killing 128 Americans, then 3 more ships were sunk. In 1917, Pres. Wilson asked Congress to declare war, arguing "the world must be made safe for democracy." Germany asked Wilson to negotiate a truce and the armistice (cease fire) was signed November 11, 1918. Fighting stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and is remembered every year as Veteran's Day on Nov 11.

The Great Depression (1929-1939) On October 27, 1929, "Black Thursday" struck Wall Street. By spring of 1933, unemployment to 15 million (roughly 1/3 of the workforce). Cities teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. One example 1932, Cook County (Chicago) was firing firemen, police, and teachers (who had not been paid in 8 months). Breadlines and Hoovervilles (homeless encampments) appeared across the nation. FDR came up with federally funded programs, called The New Deal, to help restore the American economy, relieve the suffering of the unemployed, and prevent such a severe crisis from happening again.

WWII The war began with the rise of fascism, especially in Nazi Germany. Fought from 1939-1945 in Europe and Asia, even spilling over into Africa. Involved more countries than any other war, as well as introducing powerful new weapons, including the first use of nuclear weapons. The war ravaged millions of people, included genocidal killings by Nazi Germany, as well as several other mass slaughters of civilians. These included the massacre of millions of Chinese and Korean citizens by Japan, more deaths in the Soviet Union, the Allied bombing of civilian targets in Germany, & U.S. nuclear weapons dropped on two cities in Japan. World War II produced about 50 million deaths, more than any other war to date.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th president and Eleanor Roosevelt's uncle. Eleanor would embody—and extend—his progressive political values. One historian dubbed the 20th century, "the Roosevelt century," in recognition of the trio's wide-ranging influence on American life and thought. Describing his foreign policy as "speak softly but carry a big stick," TR maintained America's military strength while working for peace. FDR & ER incorporated many of his ideas into New Deal programs during the Great Depression.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He asserted in his Inaugural Address, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In the summer of 1921, when he was 39, disaster hit-he was stricken with poliomyelitis. He was elected President in November 1932, to the first of four terms. By March there were 13,000,000 unemployed, and almost every bank was closed. In his first "hundred days," he proposed the “New Deal” programs to bring recovery to business and agriculture, relief to the unemployed, and to those in danger of losing farms and homes.