Presidential Decisions: #32 Franklin Roosevelt (D-NY)

Decision: Implementing New Deal programs to attempt to alleviate the suffering caused by the Great Depression

Historical Circumstances (1/3): In 1929, the Stock Market Crash caused a financial panic that caused the collapse of the banking industry, starting the Great Depression. It was the worse economic crisis the country has ever faced. Unemployment was widespread. Unemployment was widespread. The damage done to the economy was so severe that there was no hope of things getting better. The damage done to the economy was so severe that there was no hope of things getting better. In addition, the Dust Bowl in the center of the country made things even worse as food prices rose due to scarcity.

Historical Circumstances (2/3): President Herbert Hoover and the Republican Party believed that the government shouldn’t provide direct assistance to people. Charity should come from private donors. People came to believe that Hoover didn’t care about them and, when he ran for re-election, they wanted a change. Franklin Roosevelt and the Democrats were eager to try to alleviate people’s suffering. FDR was elected on the promise of improving people’s lives during the catastrophe.

Historical Circumstances (3/3): Upon taking office, FDR worked with Congress to create a bunch of government programs and agencies to try to help people. These New Deal programs were referred to by the acronyms their names created (the AAA, the CCC, the NRA, the TVA, etc.). They became known as the Alphabet Soup agencies. These New Deal programs were referred to by the acronyms their names created (the AAA, the CCC, the NRA, the TVA, etc.). They became known as the Alphabet Soup agencies. While they did provide some assistance, none of them were able to help pull the country out of the Depression. While they did provide some assistance, none of them were able to help pull the country out of the Depression. FDR fought with the Supreme Court, who found some of these programs to be in violation of the Constitution. FDR fought with the Supreme Court, who found some of these programs to be in violation of the Constitution.

SPECIFIC long-term effects (1/2): While the New Deal programs didn’t bring economic recovery to the nation, the Depression caused events that would eventually pull the country out of disaster. The Depression caused the rise of extremist leaders in Germany and Italy. Hitler and Mussolini used their power to start another world war. The Depression caused the rise of extremist leaders in Germany and Italy. Hitler and Mussolini used their power to start another world war. The United States wanted to stay out of World War II. But as it supplied the Allies with weapons to fight against the Axis, people went back to work and the American economy began to grow again. The United States wanted to stay out of World War II. But as it supplied the Allies with weapons to fight against the Axis, people went back to work and the American economy began to grow again.

SPECIFIC long-term effects (1/2): After the Japanese attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the U. S. entered the war on the side of the Allies. Building the American military to fight the war continued the economic growth. Building the American military to fight the war continued the economic growth. World War II pulled the United States out of the Depression. World War II pulled the United States out of the Depression. America emerged from the war as one of the two superpowers (the other being the USSR). America emerged from the war as one of the two superpowers (the other being the USSR).