The Rise of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Great Depression Problems Bank Failures Stock Market Crash Farm Failures High Unemployment Limited welfare system and lack of relief agencies Drop in home ownership Minorities hit the hardest and received the least amount of aid President Hoover is unable or unwilling to provide relief for the Great Depression…

Who was FDR? Born in 1882 to a wealthy and prominent family Raised to believe that wealthy should look after the poor Believed government’s primary role was to respond to social need Stricken with Polio in 1921 (at the age of 39 years) – public did not know President for 12 years during the two of the nation’s biggest crises - Great Depression and WWII Only President elected for 4 terms known to represent the “common man” ability to convey sympathetic concern for all

Election of 1932 Hoover was a Republican, FDR was a Democrat FDR Received 57% of popular vote and 472/531 electoral votes Election called the “Roosevelt Revolution” Greatest change in voter history Realignment of voter alliances Democrats now included farmers, industrial and white-collar workers, African Americans, immigrants, women, and intellectuals FDR ran against Hoover on a “New Deal” campaign – a program to solve the problems of the Great Depression

Blue States = Voted for Hoover Red States = Voted for Roosevelt

New Deal Relief: short term plan to give money directly to the people The New Deal Programs would provide Relief: short term plan to give money directly to the people Recovery: designed to stimulate production and restore the economy Reform: long term plan to insure that another depression would not occur

New Deal continued “100 Days” in FDR’s first 100 days in office he pushed 15 pieces of legislation through Congress to fight the Depression he focused on stabilizing financial institutions, providing relief, creating jobs, and regulating the economy EXAMPLE: day after taking office he declared a “bank holiday” (banks were closed so no one could withdraw their money) & government inspected banks to determine when they could re-open

Election of 1936 Between 6.5 – 12.5 million workers still unemployed Elected with 60.8% of popular vote (largest in history) Won every electoral vote but Maine and Vermont Number of votes for Democratic candidates increased by 205% from previous election

Did the New Deal Work? YES! improved labor conditions for many workers helped create lasting infrastructure (roads, bridges, public buildings) created some Federal Agencies that still exist today (ex: FDIC & SEC) Created a welfare system (ex: Social Security) stabilized financial institutions provided millions of jobs

Did the New Deal Work? NO! there were some critics and opponents to the New Deal some felt that the New Deal gave the Federal Government and the President too much power increased federal deficit The Supreme Court declared some New Deal programs unconstitutional (ex: NIRA & AAA) some felt the New Deal did not do enough New Deal did not end Great Depression – WWII did