In 1939 unemployment stood at 9.2 million; in 1929, it was
2.6 million. Why is FDR remembered by scholars and by the American public as a
great, even the greatest President? (100 words, by Friday 19/4 5pm).
FDR is often considered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest president of America. His response to the Great Depression through the creation of the New Deal was very rapid, a necessary measure in light of the economic situation at the time. His employment schemes gave many employment, yet, statistically speaking, the rates of unemployment actually grew between 1929 and 1939. However, when looking at these statistics, it is necessary to remember that FDR's New Deal politics probably drastically reduced the number of people who could have been unemployed by 1939. The depression might have seen much higher levels of unemployment, had FDR not implemented his policies so rapidly. FDR also introduced a personal nature to politics, through interacting with the public via letters and through 'fireside chats', on the radio, all which influenced and still influence his position as a great president.
Elected president four times, Franklin Roosevelt stands beside Abraham Lincoln and George Washington as one of the greatest leaders in American history. A presidency’s success can be measured by many factors, including low employment rates but FDR is remembered more so for the values he represented and projected to a people during their worst hour. Roosevelt was a shining beacon of hope and courage for a country tested by the 1930s Great Depression and World War II. His ‘New Deal’ scheme dramatically expanded the federal government’s role in shaping American society, permanently altering the relationship between the economy, the people and the government.
FDR is considered to be one of the greatest presidents of all-time and for good reason. His ‘New Deal’, was a necessary reaction to the great depression. Whilst it is true that the unemployment rate increase from 2.6 million in 1929 to 9.2 million in 1939, unemployment may have been much higher without FDR’s intervention. The perception of FDR as one of the greatest presidents is well founded and his newly constructed role of government and relationship with the public reshaped the perception and responsibility of the American presidency position.
FDR’s new deal is one of the key reasons he is remembered as one of the greatest American presidents of all time. Throughout the 1920’s America witnessed a boom and it was due to this boom that unemployment remained so low, however by the time FDR became president the effects of the depression were well and truly being felt and he was given the task of turning around an economy that had been left (unsuccessfully) to “fix itself”. This was no small task he was left with and although unemployment was still very high in 1929 it was arguably much better than it could have been without his leadership and the initiatives he implemented to turn the economy around. The leadership he provided was considered particularly strong not just because of the economic measures implemented, but also because of the connections he formed with the general populace through his fireside chats, which allowed him to boost morale and communicate with a level of familiarity never before seen between the president and the general population. Essentially it can be argued that FDR revolutionised the role of government in American society.
FDR's New Deal was necessary for the revival and subsequent prosperity of post-depression America. The 1920's saw a boom that ended spectacularly with the crashing of the stock market. FDR was charged with the task of rebuilding the economy and restoring employment within the country. Some argued at the time that were FDR to have left the economy as it was, and not instituted the changes that he made, the economy would have fixed itself instead of spending an unprecedented amount of money giving people jobs and instituted social services that previously had not existed or been incredibly limited and un-available to the masses. Unemplyment may not have risen as much as expected or desired, however FDR's New Deal provided a template for future presidents in so far as federal involvement with the population, institutions and the economy.
FDR is seen as the greatest president as he is seen as the great leader able to navigate the USA through the great depression and most of World War 2. In the popular memory the New Deal, FDR’s key economic plan to pull the US out of depression, is remembered as a great success, while scholars see a great shift in policy in this period of America’s history, including the move from isolationism to internationalism. Further within the popular memory he is remembered as a strong leader in the face of the challenges that lead to WWII including Pearl Harbor. Finally the basic fact that he is the longest serving president the US has had, means that he had more time to do more things than any other president has.
Franklyn Roosevelt is remembered as one of the greatest presidents the US has ever seen. His sweeping reforms and new laws proved to be revolutionary in changing the role of federal government into one of greater responsibility for the people. The New Deal - The mass mobilisation of people into the work force and taking over the reins of responsibility of individual states in terms of economic reform was later deemed highly effective in combating the Depression. Furthermore, FDR was pioneering in his approach to directly converse with the people through radio and the press, providing a level of trust, hope and confidence amongst the American population.
FDR is remembered as a great, if not the greatest President by scholars and the American public because of the many policies he introduced in the New Deal and the way he personalised politics;having far more contact with the American people than many other presidents before him. The concept of federal government being responsible for the people instead of the states was a measure implemented by FDR and considered revolutionary by the political standards of the time,it opened the way for a welfare state in America that still continues to this day. As a result many unemployed were given jobs through the Public Works Administration, who's aim was to improve the infrastructure of America. This and many other policies that aimed to improve America and its living standards through the New Deal can be seen as fundamental in preventing the U.S. from going headlong into the worst of the Depression. However, the fact that unemployment rates had significantly increased by 1939 shows that FDR could not fully stop the effects of the Great Depression, but there could have been much darker days in America at this time had not FDR implemented these New Deal policies.
FDR is almost unanimously ranked as the greatest U.S president in surveys of the American people, despite the fact that his policy failed to prevent a rapid increase in unemployment between 1929 and 1939. His popularity can be attributed to many factors. Primarily, when FDR took over the U.S was in a state of shambles after being rocked by the great depression, and the government was doing little to intervene, but relying on the private sector to restore the U.S to prosperity. FDR's policy in the new deal gave the government an interventionist role, including initiatives such creating jobs through the Public Works Administration. This more active role gave the impression he was doing something to assist the American people in their hour of need. On top of this, FDR was famous for giving the impression of a personal relationship with the U.S people. His 'fireside chats' allowed people to connect with him even without ever meeting him. Thus the combination of FDR's policy and his ability to connect with the people gave the impression he was really guiding them out of a difficult time, and hence he is remembered as great.
FDR is remembered as one of the greatest US presidents because of his influential reforms and initiatives introduced in the New Deal. His efforts revolutionised the role of federal government in US society, helped the US economy to survive and recover through/after the Great Depression and he changed the way people thought about the office of president by becoming more accessible to media/public. While the unemployment rate did increase from 2.6 million in 1929 to 9.2 million in 1939, without the intervention of FDR and his influential reforms to the economy/role of government, these statistics would've been far worse.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'New Deal' policy was instrumental in providing employment and economic assistance to America during the Great Depression. His belief that poverty was not due to an individual's failings but due to the turmoil of the economy allowed him to provide revolutionary support for those in need. FDR's employment programs such as the Works Progress Administration, which put people back to work through large-scale infrastructure projects. FDR is also remembered as one of America's greatest Presidents through his role in providing welfare, through Social Security and improving labour relations through the Wagner Act. FDR also raised Americans' morale through his 'fireside chats' and his first 100 days of relief during the New Deal.
Despite high unemployment in America throughout the 1930s, scholars and the American public consider FDR as one of the greatest presidents due to his ability to inspire Americans and to reshape the role of government. His ‘fireside chats’ created the impression of a connection between him and the people, and his leadership in what became a victorious war coincided with domestic prosperity. Furthermore, his New Deal programmes henceforth increased the responsibility of the federal government for the economic security of the people.
FDR is often considered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest president of America. His response to the Great Depression through the creation of the New Deal was very rapid, a necessary measure in light of the economic situation at the time. His employment schemes gave many employment, yet, statistically speaking, the rates of unemployment actually grew between 1929 and 1939. However, when looking at these statistics, it is necessary to remember that FDR's New Deal politics probably drastically reduced the number of people who could have been unemployed by 1939. The depression might have seen much higher levels of unemployment, had FDR not implemented his policies so rapidly. FDR also introduced a personal nature to politics, through interacting with the public via letters and through 'fireside chats', on the radio, all which influenced and still influence his position as a great president.
ReplyDeleteElected president four times, Franklin Roosevelt stands beside Abraham Lincoln and George Washington as one of the greatest leaders in American history. A presidency’s success can be measured by many factors, including low employment rates but FDR is remembered more so for the values he represented and projected to a people during their worst hour. Roosevelt was a shining beacon of hope and courage for a country tested by the 1930s Great Depression and World War II. His ‘New Deal’ scheme dramatically expanded the federal government’s role in shaping American society, permanently altering the relationship between the economy, the people and the government.
ReplyDeleteFDR is considered to be one of the greatest presidents of all-time and for good reason. His ‘New Deal’, was a necessary reaction to the great depression. Whilst it is true that the unemployment rate increase from 2.6 million in 1929 to 9.2 million in 1939, unemployment may have been much higher without FDR’s intervention. The perception of FDR as one of the greatest presidents is well founded and his newly constructed role of government and relationship with the public reshaped the perception and responsibility of the American presidency position.
ReplyDeleteFDR’s new deal is one of the key reasons he is remembered as one of the greatest American presidents of all time. Throughout the 1920’s America witnessed a boom and it was due to this boom that unemployment remained so low, however by the time FDR became president the effects of the depression were well and truly being felt and he was given the task of turning around an economy that had been left (unsuccessfully) to “fix itself”. This was no small task he was left with and although unemployment was still very high in 1929 it was arguably much better than it could have been without his leadership and the initiatives he implemented to turn the economy around. The leadership he provided was considered particularly strong not just because of the economic measures implemented, but also because of the connections he formed with the general populace through his fireside chats, which allowed him to boost morale and communicate with a level of familiarity never before seen between the president and the general population. Essentially it can be argued that FDR revolutionised the role of government in American society.
ReplyDeleteFDR's New Deal was necessary for the revival and subsequent prosperity of post-depression America. The 1920's saw a boom that ended spectacularly with the crashing of the stock market. FDR was charged with the task of rebuilding the economy and restoring employment within the country. Some argued at the time that were FDR to have left the economy as it was, and not instituted the changes that he made, the economy would have fixed itself instead of spending an unprecedented amount of money giving people jobs and instituted social services that previously had not existed or been incredibly limited and un-available to the masses. Unemplyment may not have risen as much as expected or desired, however FDR's New Deal provided a template for future presidents in so far as federal involvement with the population, institutions and the economy.
ReplyDeleteFDR is seen as the greatest president as he is seen as the great leader able to navigate the USA through the great depression and most of World War 2. In the popular memory the New Deal, FDR’s key economic plan to pull the US out of depression, is remembered as a great success, while scholars see a great shift in policy in this period of America’s history, including the move from isolationism to internationalism. Further within the popular memory he is remembered as a strong leader in the face of the challenges that lead to WWII including Pearl Harbor. Finally the basic fact that he is the longest serving president the US has had, means that he had more time to do more things than any other president has.
ReplyDeleteFranklyn Roosevelt is remembered as one of the greatest presidents the US has ever seen. His sweeping reforms and new laws proved to be revolutionary in changing the role of federal government into one of greater responsibility for the people. The New Deal - The mass mobilisation of people into the work force and taking over the reins of responsibility of individual states in terms of economic reform was later deemed highly effective in combating the Depression. Furthermore, FDR was pioneering in his approach to directly converse with the people through radio and the press, providing a level of trust, hope and confidence amongst the American population.
ReplyDeleteFDR is remembered as a great, if not the greatest President by scholars and the American public because of the many policies he introduced in the New Deal and the way he personalised politics;having far more contact with the American people than many other presidents before him. The concept of federal government being responsible for the people instead of the states was a measure implemented by FDR and considered revolutionary by the political standards of the time,it opened the way for a welfare state in America that still continues to this day. As a result many unemployed were given jobs through the Public Works Administration, who's aim was to improve the infrastructure of America. This and many other policies that aimed to improve America and its living standards through the New Deal can be seen as fundamental in preventing the U.S. from going headlong into the worst of the Depression. However, the fact that unemployment rates had significantly increased by 1939 shows that FDR could not fully stop the effects of the Great Depression, but there could have been much darker days in America at this time had not FDR implemented these New Deal policies.
ReplyDeleteFDR is almost unanimously ranked as the greatest U.S president in surveys of the American people, despite the fact that his policy failed to prevent a rapid increase in unemployment between 1929 and 1939. His popularity can be attributed to many factors. Primarily, when FDR took over the U.S was in a state of shambles after being rocked by the great depression, and the government was doing little to intervene, but relying on the private sector to restore the U.S to prosperity. FDR's policy in the new deal gave the government an interventionist role, including initiatives such creating jobs through the Public Works Administration. This more active role gave the impression he was doing something to assist the American people in their hour of need. On top of this, FDR was famous for giving the impression of a personal relationship with the U.S people. His 'fireside chats' allowed people to connect with him even without ever meeting him. Thus the combination of FDR's policy and his ability to connect with the people gave the impression he was really guiding them out of a difficult time, and hence he is remembered as great.
ReplyDeleteFDR is remembered as one of the greatest US presidents because of his influential reforms and initiatives introduced in the New Deal. His efforts revolutionised the role of federal government in US society, helped the US economy to survive and recover through/after the Great Depression and he changed the way people thought about the office of president by becoming more accessible to media/public. While the unemployment rate did increase from 2.6 million in 1929 to 9.2 million in 1939, without the intervention of FDR and his influential reforms to the economy/role of government, these statistics would've been far worse.
ReplyDeleteFranklin D. Roosevelt's 'New Deal' policy was instrumental in providing employment and economic assistance to America during the Great Depression. His belief that poverty was not due to an individual's failings but due to the turmoil of the economy allowed him to provide revolutionary support for those in need. FDR's employment programs such as the Works Progress Administration, which put people back to work through large-scale infrastructure projects. FDR is also remembered as one of America's greatest Presidents through his role in providing welfare, through Social Security and improving labour relations through the Wagner Act. FDR also raised Americans' morale through his 'fireside chats' and his first 100 days of relief during the New Deal.
ReplyDeleteDespite high unemployment in America throughout the 1930s, scholars and the American public consider FDR as one of the greatest presidents due to his ability to inspire Americans and to reshape the role of government. His ‘fireside chats’ created the impression of a connection between him and the people, and his leadership in what became a victorious war coincided with domestic prosperity. Furthermore, his New Deal programmes henceforth increased the responsibility of the federal government for the economic security of the people.
ReplyDelete