Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in a wealthy family and married his wife Eleanor who also came from a rich family. He attended Groton School in Massachusetts which was populated with students from rich families (Feinberg 56). Roosevelt learned most of his good temperaments from his headmaster whom he highly regarded. In 1903, he was admitted to Harvard College where he graduated with an A.B. in history (Davis 53). He later received an honorary LL.D from the same college in 1929. His academic pursuit was impressive and he is recorded to have joined the Columbia law school in 1904 although he dropped out three years later.
On March 17, 1905, he married his wife Eleanor whom he met while in college although his mother was opposed to his decision to marry her (Goodwin 62). They had six children: Anna Eleanor, James, Franklin Delano, Elliot, and John Aspinwall. Like many other presidents who came after Roosevelt, his term in office was full of scandals regarding his infidelity and unsteady marriage (Lash 45). However, his situation was quite different because very little was known about his marital problems. It was later established that his wife had offered him a divorce although it never sufficed (Roosevelt 40).
Military service
His ambition to create a bigger and stronger Navy when he served as an assistant secretary in the Navy was incredible. He founded the United States Navy reserve and mobilized budgetary approval from the congressional leadership (Feinberg 57). His leadership gained credit since no single strike occurred during the seven years he served in the navy (Lash 46). However, he had his share of scandalous events with the major one being the Newport sex scandal that caused great damage to his reputation as well as political ambitions.
The economic depression
Roosevelt ruled the United States of America from 1933-1945 as the 32nd president (McJimsey 33). His credits as a leader are tied to his successful leadership amidst the alarming economic depression that was a challenge to his administration. His popularity is further proved by the fact that he is the only president in the history of America to have been elected for more than two terms (Feinberg 22). His twelfth year rule is both historic and iconic. His political achievements, however, do not end with his unique three terms in office. He was also credited for putting together a coalition that dominated and shaped the American political arena for years even after leaving office (Feinberg 23).
Winning against Hoover
FDR as he was popularly called won the election defeating the incumbent republican Herbert Hoover at the climax of the 1932 great economic depression (Schewe 9). His optimistic character and a relentless spirit were the most notable contributors to his success and popularity. He had proudly recovered from a paralytic illness and his victory formed the basis of the national spirit (Schewe 9). Roosevelt’s close allies included the famous Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin who were very helpful to his administration especially during the World War II.
His unique leadership qualities began to proliferate in the first hundred days in office as the United States’ president. In less than four months, Roosevelt had already put in place executive orders that gave way for the creation of government jobs (McJimsey). In the same period, economic recovery policies were implemented and the economy begun to recover (Feinberg 11). His active involvement in creating a better economy and a strong nation in terms of military defense bestowed immense popularity upon him and his administration.
It is crucial to lay emphasis on the events surrounding Roosevelt’s terms in office. First and foremost, he led the country during a time of war and took the reins of power at the peak of an economic breakdown. Nonetheless, his skills in leadership gave him an upper hand and he always won against his challenges. For instance, in his first term in office, the economy was rapidly growing. Some of the programs formed by his government, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, exist to date (McJimsey 112). Others include the Social Security which was passed during his third year in office (Feinberg 10).
Second World War
During the World War II, Roosevelt’s administration was very instrumental in providing financial and diplomatic aid to allies (Nixon and Delano 34). He intended to make the American government an ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ and his decision enjoyed great national support (Schewe 12). During the war, his notable involvement was his financial support for his allies. His military knowledge saw a successful implementation of a war strategy that led to the defeat of the Axis powers not to mention the development of the first world’s atomic bomb (Schewe 15).
His records on employment policies during his administration had a superior influence on the electorate (Black 79). The Works Progress administration alone created employment for two million families reducing the employment rate from 20.6% to about 12.5% (Black 79). This was a significant drop in the unemployment rate and was a very good move which improved his rating as a president who delivered. The social security policy gave the elderly a reason to smile by providing economic security for them. These are just a few of the great thing Roosevelt achieved during his rein in power.
Works Cited
Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Our National Hero. New York, NY: Sterling, 2007. Print.
Black, Conrad. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2003. Print.
Davis, Kenneth. FDR: The Beckoning of Destiny, 1882-1928. New York, NY: Putnam, 1973. Print.
Feinberg, Barbara Silberdick. Franklin D. Roosevelt: America’s 32nd President. New York, NY: Children’s Press, 2005. Print.
Goodwin, Doris Kearns. No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II, New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1994. Print.
Lash, Joseph. Eleanor, and Franklin: The Story of Their Relationship, Based on Eleanor Roosevelt’s Private Papers. New York, NY: Norton, 1971. Print.
McJimsey, George. The Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2000. Harness, Cheryl. Franklin & Eleanor. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books, 2004. Print.
Nixon, Edgar, and Franklin Delano. Roosevelt and Foreign Affairs, Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1969. Print.
Roosevelt, Elliott. His Personal Letters, New York: Duell, Sloan, and Pearce, 1950. Print.
Schewe, Donald. Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Foreign Affairs, January 1937-August 1939, New York: Garland, 1983. Print.
Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States of America. Polenberg asserts that “This most enigmatic of men become the most influential American political leader of the twentieth century.” (2).He is one of the most reputable and respected president in the history of America. He rose to power in breaking the record by ruling for more than to terms. Apart from Roosevelt, there is no any other American president that has ever been elected for more than two terms.
During his era as the president of America, the country had been hit by an economic meltdown that caused the entire country to crumple financially. He was fundamental in the creation of the American liberalism. Polenberg was also careful to note that Roosevelt “changed forever the way politicians use mass media to present their massages and themselves to the electorate” (2).
Before he was elected president, he had made some promises to the electorate if they voted him for him in his bid for the prudency. Throughout his presidency, Roosevelt kept each of his promises to the people and that made him a very popular president among all the citizens from all walks of life. According to Polenberg, “March-June, first hundred days, witnesses the creation of the National Recovery Administration, Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority and Civilian Conservation Corps” (229).
September of the same year he was elected president, he had a rotating retirement-fund plan operational to satisfy for the aging population. As Polenberg writes in his book, “FDR maintained that the time had come to replace competition with cooperation.” (5). The Greatest achievement of Roosevelt was the Law of Spending meant to combat the ‘Roosevelt recession’ (Polenberg 39). All through his presidency, he was very specific with policies that were created and designed to fight the looming economic meltdown.
The business communities and stakeholders had begun to fight against his policies and argued that his policies where not helping in the recovery of the economy. He was not ready to give up to the pressure and instead he pushed and continued formulating more policies to save the economy. One of them includes the social security program as well as the emphasis by his administration on taxation.
Roosevelt imposed heavier taxes on the affluent and wealthy citizens while relieving the middle and low income earners. He was also responsible for the formulation of regulatory policies for industries such as the banking and the public utilities (Polenberg 39). Polenberg claims that Roosevelt justified these policies by arguing that “the role of government was to protect the general welfare to guard against the disastrous social consequences” (5). According to Polenberg, Roosevelt felt that it would be disastrous “if individuals are allowed to do as they please with the natural resources to line their own pockets during their life time” (5).
It was under his tenure as the president of the United States that the work relief program developed (Polenberg 39). This program was designed to relieve the unemployed from the adverse impacts of the economic meltdown. Roosevelt influences the recovery of the American economy in so many ways. The war created demand for goods and services and also the movement of people as they joined the military helped in the formation of war centres which were great hubs for business.
Roosevelt economic plans become very successful especially with the fact that the economy of the United States of America was stabilized through his policies. As he ran for the office of president, he was well aware of the challenges ahead of him and clearly he had planned a counter attack on the recession that is greatly blamed on his predecessors. Roosevelt was involved in reviving the economy and the recover started immediately he was sworn in as the president of the United States. Roosevelt seemed to have had an already blueprint on how he would handle the economic challenges that his country was facing long before he even became the president and the electorate were looking for a leader who will put their interests first.
Works Cited
Polenberg, Richard. The Era of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-1945: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Series in History & Culture), New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. Print.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a popular president and he went into power unprecedentedly for four terms and he served longer than any other president in America. His popularity also stemmed from the fact that he led America during the time of the Great Depression and in the Second World War.
Roosevelt enacted policies that ensured the social welfare of the people and as a result, he became a hero in the eyes of the average person. Through his ambitious programs referred to as the “New Deal”, he helped the hungry and unemployed masses and rescued agriculture and businesses from collapsing (Divine 2006). He was a refined and intelligent orator who spoke with great eloquence and he impressed many with his knowledgeable speeches. He knew how to win people to support his ideas and this came in handy because it enabled him to persuade Congress to support his ideas during times of crisis. He managed to control Washington politics through this talent.
Franklin Roosevelt though paralyzed from polio from his waist down for his entire political career, was one of the most influential presidents in the nation. He led the American people through times of crisis as well as extending his presidential power in solving complex puzzles during times of war.
His administration left a lasting mark on the history of the American people because of the way he handled the two largest threats to the world’s stability namely the Second World War and the Great Depression. Furthermore, his aggressive policy popularity known as New Deal Programs left an everlasting mark on American history. His leadership during the Second World War eventually led to the victory of the allies.
Franklin Roosevelt helped Britain through lend-lease when Hitler attacked her. He offered them material support by sending over $50 billion worth of arms and equipment. Roosevelt was also a man of action and when the Pearl Harbor got bombed on the 7th Dec 1941, he sprang into action and declared war on the Japanese. For him, it was now clear that appeasement could not work against the aggressors instead of a full war that was urgent to rid the world of dictatorship (Divine 2006).
Roosevelt became president at the time when America faced the greatest economic crisis of the century namely the Great Depression and the Second World War. These were the two gravest periods of the 20th century. During the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped many people who had no work and no money. He created jobs to help those affected by the Great Depression. His New Deal programs helped in providing food for the need and in creating jobs for the unemployed. At the time of war, Roosevelt acted as a war leader. With the attack of Pearl Harbor, he ordered the manufacture of war equipment in proportions never seen before.
Roosevelt is also popular because he participates in founding the United Nations. The Second World War had an immense effect on him and he felt that for the world to have a lasting peace he had to do something. Roosevelt in these bad times helped the American people to regain faith. He delivered hope according to his promised move to act. He and Churchill set up a world organization that would make sure that no war ever occurred again. He, however, died before the birth of the United Nations.
Evaluate Franklin Delano Roosevelt leadership in the Second World War
Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to power in November 1932 and by March, 13 million people were left unemployed and most of the banks closed. He embarked on a program called “The New Deal” to save both business and agriculture and to create jobs for the unemployed. (Divine 2006)
At the onset of the Second World War, America had drifted back to isolationism. In 1930s Roosevelt became increasingly concerned about Hitler’s aggression. However, he could not do anything because of the isolationist policies held by the electorate and by congress. These policies prevented America from involving itself in war and Roosevelt despite his feelings could not do anything.
However, when Hitler invaded and conquered France, Roosevelt took action. He started to help Britain through the lend-lease. America sent over $50 billion worth of arms and equipment and this signaled the end of isolationism. It did not, however, join the war but just offered material support. When the Pearl Harbor got hit on the 7th Dec 1941, America woke up and sprang into action.
Before this America had no intention of joining the war but the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor sparked a passion and inflamed Americans into wanting to fight. Roosevelt reiterated that it was now clear that appeasement could not work against “iron wolves” instead a full war would only rid the world of dictatorship and anarchy.
Roosevelt became president at the time when America faced the greatest economic crisis of the century namely the Great Depression and the Second World War. These were the two gravest periods of the 20th century. During the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped many people who had no work and no money. He created jobs to help those affected by the Great Depression. His New Deal programs helped in providing food for the need and in creating jobs for the unemployed.
The United States of America came into the second world after the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces (Borg 1998). Till then, Roosevelt had always taken a neutral attitude of isolationism and always took neutral place in world affairs even with the rise of dictators like Hitler and Mussolini.
At the time of war, Roosevelt acted as a war leader. With the attack of Pearl Harbor, he ordered the manufacture of war equipment in propositions never seen before. Roosevelt felt bad about the Second World War and he felt that for the world to have a lasting peace he had to do something. He and Churchill wanted to set up a world organization that would make sure that no war ever occurred again. He wanted an organization that would be more effective than the League of Nations that had failed miserably. He, however, died before the birth of the United Nations.
Who do you think was most responsible for the cold war?
The cold war started in 1945 and ended in 1990 and it emerged through conflicts of national interest between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. After the end of the Second World War, the United States of America and the Soviet Union emerged as the world superpowers. Each had its own ideological beliefs namely capitalism and communism. They both had a network of alliances and possessed deadly nuclear weapons.
In the 1960’s many people believed that Stalin’s aggressive ventures to expand soviet’s territories were the sole reason and the main cause of the cold war. The argument further claimed that Americans only responded to this aggression. However, in the following decades, this argument changed. According to most historians, the cold war was inevitable as the conflicts between the two superpowers had reached a breaking point because of many reasons.
The common concerns that had united the two powers disappeared with the end of the Second World War leaving two giants with radically different systems politically, socially, economically, and ideologically.
Many other reasons had contributed to heightening the tensions between the superpowers. Among such factors included that Stalin for a long time refused to join the United Nations. Stalin, however, was angry that Britain and America had deliberately delayed their entrance in the way to allow Germany to weaken the Soviet Union. Then in the Tehran conference that was held in 1943, Stalin clashed with Winston Churchill over how much control the Soviet Union would be allowed to have over countries in Eastern Europe. Stalin wanted a huge reparations from Germany.
Furthermore, he needed to build a ‘buffer’ of friendly states around the Soviet Union to protect themselves from future attacks. Britain and the USA, on the other hand, wanted to protect democracy and help Germany to recover. Another reason that contributed to the cold war was the propaganda wars that both sides waged on each other. All, these underlying ideological differences together with historical resentments that turned the earlier allies into enemies led to the cold war which was an inevitable war between the different ideologies.
The main concern of the west during the cold war was their fear that the Soviet Union might gain control over Western Europe. They feared that through his aggressiveness, Stalin would manage to take over most countries in Europe and Asia. In response to this fear, the US adopted the Marshall plan and founded NATO to enable the US to give financial aid to countries of Western Europe to help them in reconstruction. To counter the US, the Soviet Union also signed the Warsaw pact to help the Eastern countries in their reconstruction.
The cold war emerged from the Soviet Union’s immense acts of aggression coupled with America’s fear of the communist movement expanding into countries in Europe and Asia. Fear and Paranoia gripped the Americans over soviet’s influence on smaller countries where the US had vast interests. To stop these smaller countries from being influenced by communism, the US adopted the Truman doctrine and the Marshall Plan to aid them.
During the cold war, each superpower feared that other countries might have nuclear weapons and as a result of this, each superpower embarked on a nuclear arms race where each superpower produced tens of thousands of nuclear weapons.
In 1946, when the United States and Britain were trying to unify Germany, the Soviets erected a wall dividing Berlin into two.
Through the Soviet Union and the United States sought the second world war as allies, they were not friends. Both nations viewed each other with suspicion and the relationship between them was that of mutual distrust. Americans had long expressed suspicions and skepticism towards communism and alarmed of the way Stalin ruled his own country.
The soviets however deeply resented the fact that Americans had for decades refused to recognize the Soviet Union as a member of the international community. They also hated them for the isolationist policies that the US had adopted which barred them from entering the world war until it was a little too late and tens of millions of Russians had already been killed. When the Second World War ended both countries emerged as superpowers and the overwhelming sense of distrust that had existed between them now became increasingly severe. During the cold war, though the relations between the two countries were at its worst, it did not escalate into a full-blown war. No one, however, is responsible for starting the cold war because the war was entirely inevitable.
Compare presidencies of Truman and Eisenhower
Harry S Truman was the 33rd president of the United States and the Successor of President Roosevelt. He governed the United States of America from 1945 -1953. Eisenhower, however, was the 34th president of the United States and he ruled from 1953-1961.
Both presidents governed the United States at the time of the cold war and in a bid to maintain stability in the international arena; they had to adopt the policy of containment towards what they perceived as the Soviet Union’s aggressiveness. Truman focused more on maintaining power balance within the international community than focusing on domestic politics like fiscal policies. Eisenhower, on the other hand, focused more on domestic and internal politics and public opinion mattered more than what was happening in the international arena.
Truman was more concerned with keeping power balance in Europe and Asia and he did this through military expenditures with little regard to internal policies in the US. He sent aid to Europe and Asia to help those countries to develop because economic stability was essential in ensuring that peace and order prevailed in the international arena. Eisenhower, on the other hand, was a conservative leader who paid more attention to the government’s fiscal policies and controlled government spending (Divine 2006). He saw that it was more important for the US to trade with countries in Europe than giving them aid packages.
Eisenhower did not accept the government intervening on economic matters of other countries because interfering with the affairs of these countries was socialism which they were fighting in the first place.
The government of both Truman and Eisenhower pursued different military strategies. For Truman, a strong conventional military was more effective in achieving foreign policy goals while Eisenhower believed that more conventional armies were unnecessarily expensive. He preferred nuclear weapons and he said that he was willing to use them anytime compared with conventional weapons.
The differences in the way they handled the policy of containment relates largely to the times of their governance. Truman pursued the policies of the balance of power because he needed to contain Stalin’s aggressiveness. He governed the United States at the time when the soviet union under Stalin was pursuing expansionist strategies and the Soviet Union’s hostility and aggression coupled with their military capability affected Truman.
Furthermore, Stalin’s aggression of expanding to all the strategic parts of the world hence threatening the US security and economic interests disturbed him. For Truman, if the Soviet Union managed to control Iran and Turkey, this would pose an immediate threat to the international balance of power as well as the balance of capabilities would be upset. He was certain that what he was doing was right and he managed to convince Congress to support him in his endeavors since most of the time Truman had to make quick decisions to avoid conflict with Stalin. Congress, however, controlled Eisenhower and he did only the things that during congress needed approval.
The reason for the difference between Truman and Eisenhower’s policies attributes to different times of governance. Two months after Eisenhower took power, Stalin died and the idea of Stalinization of Europe died with him. He therefore unlike Truman did not face many problems. His administration entirely relied on public opinion which came to largely shape his containment policies. His worries were about the US becoming over-inflated and the economy becoming over-heated hence affecting America’s reputation in the global arena. He believed that a strong American economy was the most valuable thing and an effective tool in controlling the politics of the International arena. His use of nuclear warfare as a tool of deterrence was an effective strategy in containing the Soviet Union’s aggression.
Comment on why Vietnam was a bad mistake
Vietnam was a result of the cold war and it was fought between the nationalists’ forces of North Korea allied to the communists, and the United States assisted by South Vietnamese (Moss 1998). The United States went into war with the northern Vietnamese forces because they saw their efforts of trying to unify Vietnam as part of the communists’ quest for expansion. The US determined to stop what they saw as the Soviet’s aggression adopted the policy of containment to stop the communists from expanding further.
Ho Chi Minch was a communist Vietnamese revolutionary leader who always tried to woo the US into supporting him against the French. He even supplied the US with military intelligence about the Japanese during the Second World War but despite this, the US went ahead to attack them because of their dedication to the foreign policy of containment. Furthermore, the US feared that if one country in Southeast Asia for the communists, then all the others would follow suit. The US, therefore, went into Vietnam to help the French to fight against Ho Chi Minh.
However, in 1954, the French pulled out of the war after experiencing a humiliating defeat at Dien Bien Phu. After the withdrawal of the French forces, the US refused to give up as they feared that the communists would conquer the entire country of Korea. In 1960, the communists’ sympathizers in South Korea established the National Liberation Front (NLF) which was also known as Viet Cong which then fought the Americans using guerilla warfare.
The Vietcong and the Vietnamese government saw the war as a colonial war where the United States like the French wanted to colonize Korea. The Vietcong using extremely organized logistics to supply their forces and this largely contributed to the humiliating defeat of the Americans. The Americans had underestimated the power of the Vietnamese and had gone into war with confidence that they would win.
However, the Vietcong hid in a complex web of tunnels that ran through parts of North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia which made it very hard for the Americans to attack them. The United States advisors had rejected ground attacks and as a result, communist forces took advantage and moved massive amounts of troops and weaponry into South Vietnam.
Provide your opinion of Richard Nixon. Was he our worst president? Provide examples
Richard Nixon became the 37th president of the United States from 1969 to 1974. He was the only president that decided to resign on his own. Nixon succeeded his presidency after the withdrawal of President Johnson after the primary elections. Nixon during the general elections showed himself as a person with ability. His inauguration as the 37th president of the United States was on January 20, 1969, and sworn in by Chief Justice Earl Warren.
After Nixon took over the presidency, close to 300 American soldiers died every week in Vietnam. The war in Vietnam was so bad and so violent. Richard Nixon’s enemies including politicians, activists, intellectuals, and academicians, who opposed the war continued to unleash attacks on his government (Divine 2006). These attacks grew fiercer and tighter and Nixon’s government to them was a bad scheme, mad bomber as well as a domestic failure. Nixon was the worst president of the postwar time and of that century. He disregarded public opinion and refused to get out of Vietnam. He instead initiated the civil war arguing that war was not warred until victory was got. The voters of America could not trust the government because of the secret bombing of Nixon as well as the betrayal of the voters.
Nixon’s waste of time in Vietnam left 15,000 Americans dead. Nixon turned Vietnam’s neighbors Cambodia into a war ground. On August 15, 1971, President Nixon established the freezing of wages and prices to control inflation of the country’s economy. This became an act of authoritarianism and abuse of power and as a result, people suffered from Nixon’s arrogance. During his tenure, the country became overinflated and the government ordered the control of prices.
Farmers in the country went into losses as they could not feed their animals because of the hiked prices and they were not allowed to talk about it or raise any issues about it. During the night farmers were shooting their calves and piglet. Wage and price controls rose due to the shortages in beef, pork, and food. President Nixon introduced new products for people in the market and raised the prices of the commodities to the extent that people could not help themselves financially.
The cost of living among the people became more expansive as children and wives were to stay at their homes while their husbands worked to finance their families and life became hard for the people.
Nixon together with Kissinger handled the Mideast diplomacy so badly and America suffered for not getting oil for more years. Corruption and abuse of power were one of the leading crimes in Nixon’s administration as he destroyed the Republican brand and turned their states to blue. Richard Nixon opened up US relations with china and reached an arms-limitation agreement with the Soviet Union. He supported the Environment Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety commission policies.
Nixon officially agreed on the secret bombing campaign in Cambodia in 1969 where his mission was to destroy the headquarters of Viet Cong. Through all this, it led to serious and violent bombings in Cambodia than the one in the Second World War which left many people dead. Nixon sent letters to the leaders of North Vietnamese to bring peace among themselves in mid-1969 whereby talks later took place in Paris.
Nixon obstructed investigation about the crime committed by his campaign team by breaking into Democratic National Headquarters which its name was the Watergate scandal.
Evaluate the Clinton administration. What were some of the positive and negative aspects of his administration?
Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States and he served the country from 1993-2001. He was the second democratic president after Franklin Roosevelt and elected by the people on a second term. Clinton’s administration is known for the federal deficit and he managed to set up the strongest economy in American history. He was part of the 1990’s boom in the United States. His economic teams including Robert Rubin of the National Economic Council have received a lot of praise for the exceptional and uncommon fiscal discipline that existed in America in 1993. This enabled the country to develop confidence in the financial markets through exceptional surplus (Divine 2006).
His greatest accomplishments include an economic globalization creation by advocating for free trade through organizations like NAFTA; GATT.etc. He ratified the North American Free Trade Agreements which allowed for the unrestricted trade between Canada, Chile, the US, and Mexico. He is even praised for solving some of the most serious economic catastrophes in developing countries.
Clinton further helped in ending the conflict in the Balkans which had threatened both the European security and the practice of transatlantic trade agreements.
Despite the achievements of Bill Clinton, he also faced serious challenges. First, his policies appeared too many Americans as short-listed. His economic successes largely benefited Americans of that era and many of his critics argue that great presidents must create programs that endure the test of time, unlike Clinton’s policies.
Another setback for Clinton was on the failure of his administration to intervene and stop the genocide in Rwanda. America stood by and watched Rwanda burn without intervening. Then the worst part of all this was Clinton’s impeachment. Clinton is the second American President to suffer the disgrace of impeachment. The damage done by this was much greater, more pronounced and more permanent than all his achievements
A huge defeat to Clinton’s presidency was also experienced when his plan for a national health care system failed. Bill Clinton was president of the United States from 1993-2001. During his tenure, America enjoyed a time of peace and relatively economic wellbeing than any other time in history. He managed to make budget supplies in decades. He upgraded education, protected and created jobs, restricted the sale of handguns and fought against racial discrimination
Works Cited
Borg, Dorothy. The United States and the Far Eastern Crisis, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1993.Print.
Divine, Robert et al. America Past and Present: Volume 2: Since 1865, Prentice Hall: Pearson Education, 2006. Print.
Moss, George Donelso. Vietnam: An American Ordeal, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.
The history of Japanese in the United States of America is overwhelmed with events of internment and imprisonment in camps. Once President Roosevelt had occupied the main position in the American government, he issued an announcement that ordered to free all representatives of the Asian nation from internment camps in the territory of the USA. The following paper is intended to discuss and analyze the primary source that proves these actions of Franklin Roosevelt in 1943. Once President Franklin evaluated the situation of World War II with Japanese who were deprived of their freedom rights and dignities by American military forces, he decided to announce to free all the people of Asian ethnic background in his country in 1943, which is now used as a credible primary source in discussions of contemporary history.
Observation
The format of the primary source called “FR Says Loyal Japanese to Be Freed” is an extraction from a newspaper (not identified) that was issued in 1943. This piece of literature presents President Roosevelt’s announcement regarding the resolution he made to free all the Japanese from American internment camps. The text consists of summarization and quotations of Mr. Roosevelt’s statements. The words “Americans of Japanese ancestry who are loyal to this country will be permitted to work in normal homes and jobs”1 attracted my attention the most.
Evaluation
The author of the discussed primary source is not stated, although he or she quoted Franklin Roosevelt and was published by one of the American newspapers in 1943. The creator of the article did not have any bias, based on who this person was and the period when he or she was writing. However, as the author wrote for regular citizens, they had to compose the text according to the popular style. The context in which the source was produced was about World War II, multiple violations of Japanese people’s rights, and their lives in internment camps2.
Analysis
The significance of the discussed source is tremendous because it played a major role in the lives of American Japanese – all people had a chance to know that the representatives of the Asian nation were finally free.3 This fact is considered to be both unique and important for contemporary people as it tells them how the US government treated Japanese in the 20th century.4 The country’s population should care about this historical event to develop respect and understand the price of freedom that every race had paid for it.5 From President Roosevelt’s announcement, I learned that he was concerned with the problems of Japanese at internment camps. Such a kind and compassionate relation cannot be learned from any other source.
Question
I still have one question about the moment of World War II in history: “What made white people think that they were the supreme race?” I do not have any questions to the author of the article discussed in the paper. It would also be interesting to understand how these events influenced relations among modern Americans and Japanese.
Conclusion
President Roosevelt’s words regarding making Japanese from American internment camps free were rephrased and quoted by an unknown author and published in the newspaper issued in 1943. This announcement became crucial for the representatives of the Asian nation in the USA. This source can be claimed important for all Americans as it shows them the significance of the moment and Franklin Roosevelt’s relation to his citizens.
Bibliography
Curley, John. “In All Fairness- Are They Loyal?” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1943. Web.
Fellowship of Reconciliation. “Evacuation! A Selected Bibliography on the Japanese Evacuation.” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1943. Web.
“FR Says Loyal Japanese to Be Freed.” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1943. Web.
The Commission on World Peace. “For Interracial Tolerance.” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1944. Web.
War Relocation Authority. “First Quarterly Report.” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1942. Web.
Footnotes
“FR Says Loyal Japanese to Be Freed,” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, September 15, 1943, Web.
War Relocation Authority, “First Quarterly Report,” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1942,Web.
Fellowship of Reconciliation, “Evacuation! A Selected Bibliography on the Japanese Evacuation,” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1943, Web.
The Commission on World Peace, “For Interracial Tolerance,” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections, 1944, Web.
John Curley, “In All Fairness- Are They Loyal?” University of La Verne Archives and Special Collections 1943, Web.
Accepting the position of the President of the United States on March 4, 1933, Franklin Roosevelt in his speech promised to apply the most vigorous measures to combat the crisis. On March 9, a special session of the congress began, lasting more than three months and adopting a number of important acts that seriously affected the US economy and laid the foundation of the New Deal. This paper will focus on the initiatives of Roosevelt’s presidency, its premises, justification, and the impact of the former presidents.
Body
First of all, the situation in the industrial and banking spheres required an urgent adoption of anti-crisis measures. Attempts were made to stabilize the monetary system, which was to become the foundation for subsequent decisions. In the early days of Roosevelt’s presidency, the Emergency Banking Act was announced, and bank holidays were created. The act temporarily suspended all operations of banks belonging to the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Roosevelt declared that bank holidays in many cases create great inconvenience, but, at the same time, they give the opportunity to replenish the stock of cash, as required by the situation. In his turn, Reed claims that this strategy deprived depositors of their money and literally killed almost 2,000 banks that never operated again after bank holidays[1]. Also, the author considers that the New Deal even prolonged the Great Depression by prohibiting branch banking. Compared to Canada, which did not have the mentioned law, the United States experienced many failures in the banking area.
Particularly interesting and contradictory was the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of 1933. On the part of the state, the practical implementation of the mentioned act was entrusted by the National Recovery Administration led by Hugh Johnson.
The whole industry was divided into 17 groups, while each of them contained codes of fair competition[2]. During the period of the development of codes for each industry, the government proposed its model code, which could be applied to any industry on a temporary basis for restoring business activity. All industries quickly developed the appropriate codes after approval by the head of the state. Enterprises that agreed to comply with the terms of the codes were given the right to designate their products with the sign of a blue eagle.
To combat the key manifestation of the decline in production – unemployment, as well as to improve the financial situation of the population, the following measures were taken by Roosevelt: the direct assistance to the unemployed, the introduction of an unemployment insurance system, and the organization of public works. On May 12, 1933, to provide assistance to the unemployed people, the President allocated approximately $ 0.5 billion. The national aid was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) headed by Hopkins. Based on the recommendations of NIRA, the Public Works Administration (PWA) was created. In 1935, important reforms were introduced in the areas of labor, social security, taxation, banking, and other spheres.
The difficult economic situation prevailing in the country forced the leadership to take urgent measures, which served as the basis for further reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy. In other words, the very state of the country’s economy as the consequences of the Great Depression made Roosevelt initiate the mentioned actions. The struggle against the Great Depression affected virtually all spheres of society. The activities that were aimed at the development of public works, maintaining prices, developing agriculture, creating new mortgage markets, regulating the securities market, shortening the working day and the working week, restoring international trade, increasing the area of forests, and abolishing the dry law – all that led to Roosevelt’s acts and regulations.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an American of Dutch origin and a distant relative of Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States of 1901-1909. From the beginning of the 1920s, Roosevelt fought with the hardest disease – poliomyelitis, which left an indelible imprint on his character and personal traits[3]. Apparently, this led to the fact that the whole meaning of his life was switched to work, and its highest manifestation was full and unselfish service to his state and people.
What is especially important, as a person suffering from the disease, he certainly was close to the suffering of other people. Most likely, at the time of his election, Roosevelt had his own vision of reforming the existing economic order. In many ways, he acted empirically on the basis of the requirements of real-life, practice, and not any dogmas. Roosevelt was a vividly expressed collectivist and relied on scientists’ suggestions.
It is equally important that Roosevelt was able to synthesize the best economic and political concepts of the time, including the new nationalism of Theodor Roosevelt and the new freedom of Wilson. At the same time, it is possible to note that Roosevelt’s initiative had an adverse impact on the country’s economy. In particular, Reed points out that the President attempted to spend $ ten billion on the renovation, while the US revenue was only $ three billion. Most importantly, the author emphasizes that the “federal debt skyrocketed by 73 percent”[4]. This shows that Roosevelt’s New Deal had both adverse and beneficial impacts.
The American bourgeoisie was largely oriented towards the domestic market. The American establishment believed that everything would come to order by itself, which was due to the weakness of the economic measures of President Hoover. In fact, some of Hoover’s measures were actually and successfully used by Roosevelt in the future. Another president whose initiative made an impact on Roosevelt was Woodrow Wilson.
Keeping faithfulness to the President Woodrow Wilson’s slogan about the messianic role of the United States and not changing their claims to world leadership, Franklin Roosevelt and the Democrats opposed the Republican foreign policy and introduced the concept of an active invasion in the international affairs, but again in the interests of affirming Washington’s influence on the course of world development. Enacting the Executive Reorganization bill in 1939, he boosted the responsibilities of the Chief Executive and improved the capacity of the presidency.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is significant to emphasize that the role of President Franklin Roosevelt was essential for overcoming the Great Depression in the United States. Roosevelt called his program New Deal to overcome the consequences of the Great Depression and solve social problems. The new course combined measures to strengthen the state regulation of the economy with reforms in the social sphere. The most important result was that the economy passed the phase of the crisis since all indicators of recovery were evident.
Bibliography
Reed, Lawrence. Great Myths of the Great Depression. Midland, MI: Mackinac Center, 2008.
Shi, David Emory, and Tindall, George Brown. America: A Narrative History. 10th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Lawrence Reed, Great Myths of the Great Depression (Midland, MI: Mackinac Center, 2008), 9.
David Emory Shi and George Brown Tindall, America: A Narrative History, 10th ed. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016), 323.
David Emory Shi and George Brown Tindall, America: A Narrative History, 10th ed. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016), 327.
Lawrence Reed, Great Myths of the Great Depression (Midland, MI: Mackinac Center, 2008), 10.
The Difference between FDR’s First New Deal and the Second New Deal
Following the escalation of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), promised to act promptly to confront the ‘dark realities’. FDR vowed to crack war against the disturbing state of affairs. Firstly, he declared a four-day bank holiday, which stopped people from withdrawing their savings from unsteady banks. Insolvent banks were closed, while others were reorganized following the enactment of Roosevelt’s Emergency Banking Act on 9 March 1933. In the first hundred days in office, FDR aimed at ending the Great Depression. He urged Congress to take bold measures towards ending prohibition. This situation gave the Americans another chance to purchase beer. Congress ended prohibition completely during the ratification of the 21st Amendment.
In May, FDR signed the Tennessee Valley Authority Act into law. This decision enabled the federal government to construct dams along the Tennessee River to stop flooding and initiate the generation of affordable hydroelectric power for the resident communities. Congress passed a bill that compensated farmers to abandon their uncultivated fields in a bid to end agricultural surplus. Workers were allowed to form unions to push to gain access to good pay and improved working conditions following the enactment of the Industrial Recovery Act. This Act suspended antitrust laws and established the Public Works Administration that was funded by the federal government. Roosevelt also passed other major laws in his first one-hundred days in office. Most of the American people were convinced that FDR was implementing the ’vigorous action’ that he had promised during his inauguration.
Despite FDR’s vigorous action, the Great depression continued and the nation’s economy worsened. Unemployment was still stubborn and the American people become enraged. This situation prompted Roosevelt to launch the second New Deal in 1935. This comprised a series of vibrant programs. In April, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was formed to create projects for the unemployed. The main jobs that were carried out by these projects focused on building post offices, bridges, schools, highways, and parks among others. Writers, artists, musicians, and theater directors had projects under the WPA. The National Labor Relations Board Act, commonly referred to as the Wagner Act, was created by the National Labor Relations Board to supervise union elections and prevent unfair treatment of workers. In August, FDR signed the Social Security Act of 1935 assured pensions to millions of Americans. Eventually, it launched a system of unemployment insurance and the federal government was charged with the responsibility of taking care of dependent children and people with disabilities.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is perhaps the most accomplished presidents in the history of the United States. Although Roosevelt was United States’ 32nd president, none of his predecessors did a better job than him. One of his greatest achievements was when he single-handedly changed the course of the world through his New Deal program at a time when the Great Depression was biting hard. Though he passed on before the war ended, his leadership during the Second World War culminated into a victory for the allied forces. Moreover, he is the only president to have been elected four times in the United States. This essay provides an insight into Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s life and his accomplishments.
Roosevelt was born in New York on 20th January 1882 by wealthy parents and, therefore, had a good education. Although he was incapacitated by polio in 1921, Roosevelt never let his aspirations fade away. Eventually, his strong will and determination catapulted him to the white house in 1933 as the 32nd president of the United States.
Subsequently, some fabulous economic plans such as the new deal program helped Roosevelt lead the US through the Great Depression and the Second World War. Additionally; he made history after managing to convince the US electorate to re-elect him three times. Sadly, Roosevelt died in office on 12th April 1945 after suffering from cerebral hemorrhage
It is quite obvious that when the US sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold. This statement became self-evident when the events of black Tuesday caused a recession in the US which later trickled to the rest of the world as the Great Depression. Therefore, one of Roosevelt main task was to turn around the ailing United States’ economy. Interestingly, he accomplished this task with ease through his new deal program. In doing so, Roosevelt turned around the economy of the whole world and, hence, made it a better place to live in.
His role in the Second World War established the United States as a world leader and a force to be reckoned with. In the course of the war, Roosevelt, as a commander in chief, relentlessly worked around his military advisors in an effort to deliver a victory for the Allied forces. As a result, Roosevelt helped fashion a strategy for defeating Germany through a series of attacks in Africa and Europe. However, he carried out these attacks in collaboration with the allied forces. This invasion together with other events such as the assault on Japan led to the end of the Second World War. This was yet another remarkable achievement associated with Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
It will take time for the world to produce a person who will equal Franklin Delano Roosevelt achievements. His policies and strategies shook the world and their impacts trickled to all corners of the world like bush fire. Consequently, the world will perpetually remember his well thought economic policies that dragged the US from a recession and the world from the Great Depression.
Furthermore, Roosevelt’s leadership throughout the Second World War will also be cemented in the minds of many people as the reason why Hitler and his accomplices were defeated. Indeed, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a hero and one of the most admirable historical figures who changed the world.
With great power comes great responsibility. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty second president of America. He was one of the greatest American presidents because he helped the nation go through the great depression and also guided the country during the World War II. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only president to have been elected for four terms in the office (Schuman 108). He made sincere efforts to bring prosperity back to the United State, restored confidence and measures protecting popular savings in the bank. Also among his achievements included passing of laws favorable to the common people and came up with a legislation establishing unemployment insurance and old age pension. This president was among the greatest president in America and thus this article will explain his term in the office, the Pearl Harbor, World War II and Manhattan project which happened during his reign.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt office term
The tradition in United State allowed Presidents to serve for a maximum period of only two years. Franklin Delano Roosevelt served for four terms and thus became the only president to break this precedent. He ran for and was elected to a third term in 1940 and was then elected to a fourth term in 1944. The rationale for President Roosevelt running for these additional terms in the office was the perilous times in the early 1940s, as American faced the possibility of war in 1940 and was in the midst of war in 1944 (Schuman, p. 108).
When President Franklin Roosevelt broke the custom of two terms, a campaign began to enact a constitutional amendment to limit presidential terms. This amendment limited presidents to two terms in the office. If someone succeeded the president in the office and served more than two years of the original term, he would then be elected to one full term.
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States with surprise at Pearl Harbor. It was a deliberate attack by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan. This shocked all the Americans as Japanese even made a second run at the United States the following morning. In its efforts to move to the modern age, Japan realized it had little or no oil, gas and other raw materials. Japanese military decided to expand to the countries that had these raw materials. Japanese increasing hostility created concern to the United States and Europe. Since some Japanese feared war with United States, a peaceful deal was to be strike to settle the differences of the two nations (Hill, p. 221).
In spring 1940, the United States pacific fleet moved to Pearl Harbor. The Japanese believed that the United States could use the island as a base to strike them. They saw the move to Pearl Harbor as a threat to Japanese security. Relations between the two countries worsened and President Franklin Roosevelt signed a secrete order that allowed former members of the United States military to fight against the Japanese in China. He also banned the export of scrap metal, steel and aviation fuel to Japan (Hill, p. 221). The Japanese were left with three choices of either giving in to American demands and leave China, wait for their fuel to run out or attack and seize resource rich areas. Admiral Yamamoto thought that the best option was to strike and since he knew that Japan could not defeat America in a long war, he decided on a quick, surprise attack to crush the United State navy.
In early 1941, Yamamoto began planning for the conquest of those areas of Asia that Japan desired and part of that plan was to attack and cripple the United State navy at Pearl Harbor. On November 26, a fleet of Japanese warship set sail towards Pearl Harbor. It included six air craft carriers carrying 441 air crafts. They were escorted by two battle ships, two heavy cruisers, six destroyers and several submarines. Five midget submarines were also due to launch from large subs (Hill, p. 221). These were to enter the harbor and torpedo American ships. On December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese planes took off from aircraft carriers to attack the United State military base on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The attack came in to waves in which American naval base and airfields were bombed and torpedoed. The following day, Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared war on Japan, officially beginning America’s involvement in World War II.
World War II
When Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt addressed a Congress and declared a state of war between the United States and the Japanese Empire. Congress agreed and declared war on Japan, as did Great Britain. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on United States in Support of Japan. The presidents believed that Germany participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Roosevelt whipped up the United State machines (Heinrichs, p. 204). In 1942, he called for the production of 60,000 planes, 25,000 tanks, 20,000 anti-aircrafts guns and merchant vessels to replace those sunk by Germany submarines. The president signed an executive order that sent 110,000 Japanese-American to detention camps because hatred for people with Japanese background had hit United States. He believed that these people acted as spies or were disloyal to United States and thus were imprisoned in remote desert areas where they remained till the end of the war.
Another tragedy continued in Europe where Hilton was killing millions of Jews in concentration camps. None of the Allies, including the United State, made an effort to end this suffering until near the wars end. Allied leaders said the Jews would be better helped in the long run by the defeat of Germany. Defeating Germany remained Roosevelt’s first priority, even though the Japanese had brought the United States in to the war. The President believed that war would continue till the Germans surrender. Great Britain continued to fight Germans from the west after defeating the Axis powers in North Africa and Italy (Heinrichs, p. 204).
Manhattan project
The nuclear age traces its origin in 1938 when American scientists feared that Nazi German where fission was discovered would develop a fission bomb. Albert Einstein, a known scientist wrote a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt warning him of this possibility (Cohen, p. 96). Einstein also told the president that the fission could also lead to construction of a very powerful bomb. The president was convinced and decided that the United States must beat Germany in construction of a bomb. In 1939, even before the United States entered World War II or realized the full implications of Einstein warning, Roosevelt established the first federal uranium research program. He put forth the resources to begin the building of a bomb.
Fission research resulted to further advances including the 1940 discovery of the element plutonium by physicist in the University of California. When the United States entered the war against Japan, Germany and Italy in December, the race to beat Germany in developing an atomic bomb accelerated under a secret army Corps of engineer program known as “Manhattan project”. By September 1944, after less than two years of work, Manhattan Project researchers had begun producing plutonium for weapons. In July 16, 1945, they detonated an experimental atomic bomb known as “the gadget” from a tower in Mexico desert. Less than three weeks later, United State airmen dropped an atom bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima followed by the detonation of “fat man” over Nagasaki in 9th August. This became the largest scientific endeavors of its time. It involved thousands of physicist, chemists, engineers and technicians working feverishly over a period of five years. The Japanese finally surrendered and this marked the end of Word War II (Cohen, p. 96).
Conclusion
Franklin Delano Roosevelt remains a great President in the history of United States. He was the first one to go for more than two terms in the office against the tradition in the United State. He also led the country through the Second World War after the Japanese attack at the Pearl Harbor and also it is during his reign that the first atomic bomb was constructed. This article has given the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s history on his term in the office as a president. It has also explained the attack of the Pearl Harbor which made the president declare the World War II. Finally, the article has explained the president’s achievement in the Manhattan project.
Works cited
Cohen, Daniel. The Manhattan Project. Chicago: Twenty-First Century Books, 1999.
Heinrichs, Waldo. Threshold of war: Franklin D. Roosevelt and American entry into World War II. Chicago: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Hill, Richard. Hitler attacks Pearl Harbor: why the United States declared war on Germany. New York: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2003.
Schuman, Michael. Franklin D. Roosevelt: The Four-Term President. New York: Enslow Publishers, 1996.
The global economic crisis of 1929-1933 has hit the U.S. with a particular force. It has sharply reduced the volume of production, which led to the breakdown of finances, caused widespread destruction and bankruptcy of industrial, commercial, and financial firms, not to mention mass unemployment. The total output of American industry in 1932, was only about 54%, compared to the pre-crisis, in 1929. The years of the crisis-affected one-fifth of all U.S. banks, every third worker was denied employment. Hundreds of thousands of farms were forcibly sold for non-payment of debts and taxes. America was in a pre-revolutionary situation and required radical change of the old way of life (Means 2013).
Roosevelt, the newly elected president, made a promise to the people to change the world. It was a statement that defined his presidency. With the close support of his advisers, who were nicknamed “The Brain Trust”, he conducted a thorough preparation of a positive social program, which included the actions of reforming the administrative and judicial authorities, issues of economic planning and legislative regulation of the economy. The set of anti-crisis measures for state regulation for the American economy during Roosevelt’s administration was called the “New Deal”. The main reforms have been carried out during the first “hundred days” of the presidency. Congress passed a large number of laws covering all aspects of social, economic and political life, which became crucial to society. The meaning of the policy of “New Deal” was described by Roosevelt in a speech to the voters, as elements of economic planning for a “more equitable distribution of wealth and goods and supplies, the essential elements of economic organization to the needs of the people” (Means 2013).
To combat the main problem—unemployment, as well as to improve the material conditions of the population, the New Deal has taken the following measures: direct aid to the unemployed, the introduction of unemployment insurance and public works. Since May 12, 1933, about 0.5 billion, was spent towards unemployment, provision of jobs and change of policies. Most of the unemployed receiving benefits, preferred public works. Based on recommendations of the NIRA, Public Works Administration (PWA) was established. The total amount of work performed by its projects was supported by 3.3 billion dollars. For political reasons, the Government paid special attention to the increase in employment among young people. In the spring of 1933, there were special camps created that provided the most necessities for the people. The first camp for unemployed youth established during 1933-1939, has taken about 2 million people under the age of 25 years. There was full support and provision for the whole duration of the stay. The law also stated that only men were able to take up the positions but this law was changed. The single women needed just as much support and so, by 1935, the administration started helping single mothers, as they needed much more help than the families who could have both parents working. To reduce social tension, it has been decided to organize a simple public work, not requiring significant capital expenditures. This took place in the winter of 1933-1934. These measures, in addition to their direct purpose, stimulated purchasing capacity, implementing inflationary mechanisms of the American economy. The measures have taken a positive impact on unemployment; by 1937 it had dropped to 7.7 million people. However, as a result of the second wave of the economic crisis that occurred in 1938, the number of unemployed increased again to 10.4 million. Measures to combat the crisis in agriculture, due to the fall of prices for the products, were reflected in the Bill of assistance to farmers, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 05/12/1933. Its main part was a law on the regulation of agriculture. The program was called the Recovery Administration Agriculture. The main task was associated with the rise in the relative price level of agricultural products; the corresponding pre-crisis level, as such, was taken in summer 1914. The fall in prices of agricultural products in 1934 was about 58% (Schlesinger 2003).
The “New Deal” of Roosevelt had, as we see, both positive and negative sides. The economy was restored. The construction of new factories helped people get away from unemployment. A new system of insurance provided more secure and reliable job placement and stability in the economy. The common man has become part of America’s economic pyramid. But in connection with the increasing prices of food and clothing there appeared a deficit. Not everyone could afford to diversify and provide what was needed for the families. But despite this unemployment and economic ruin, the problems were defeated by the second term of Roosevelt. He created the foundation of America’s economic might. No doubt a great politician Roosevelt and his “New Deal” played a significant and positive role in the life of every American.
Roosevelt was a great politician who was able to determine what people needed and what steps must be taken to provide the most opportunities and change for society.
Reference
Means, Bernard. Shovel Ready: Archaeology and Roosevelt’s New Deal for America. Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 2013.
Schlesinger, Arthur. The Coming of the New Deal. 1933-1935. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003.
Franklin D. Roosevelts and Lyndon B. Johnson’s were both presidents of the United States of America. During their tenure they created programs that would make a difference in the lives of the people and also the economy. The programs mainly looked at the financial systems, agriculture, education, transportation and medical care. The two programs were different only by the programs enacted. In this discussion we shall look at the programs of these presidents of this powerful nation (Breen, 57) and highlight the short and long term effect of the programs. As well, we shall look at how these programs were affected by those of President Reagan, Clinton and George W. bush and George W. bush Jr.
Franklin D.Roosevelts New Deal Program
Franklin D. Roosevelts was the thirty second president of the United States of America (Norton, 17). It is during his time that the country was faced with the great depression. This lead to the creation of a program he named New Deal to provide relief to the unemployed, recovery of economy, recovery of economic and banking systems.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Program
The great society program was created by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s. He mainly looked at deal with the poverty in the country and also the increasing injustice among the race. He addressed such issues like transportation, education, medical care, urban problems and also reducing the difference between the black and the whites.
Effects and Impact of the programs
The New Deal program solved a crisis that was there as a result of the great depression. It provided a relief to the needy people in the society through the creation of employment opportunities, and improvement on agriculture. The economic situation was improved through the introduction of new banking and financial systems.
The most outstanding issue about the Great society program was its initiative to end poverty. The program looked to it that the poor people in the society had access to education, medical care, transport and living standards improved. The program brought a general decline on the poverty level. Also the black people lived a better life.
Conclusion
Franklin D.Roosevelts New Deal Program and Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Program mainly focused on the improvement of the living standards of the people. There successors like President Reagan, Clinton, and George W. Bush mainly focused at the economy. They considered cutting down tax, creation of trade and welfare reforms.
President Reagan affected the Great Society Program by cutting down funding that had been allocated to the program.
Work cited
Breen, T. H. Power of Words, The: Documents in American History. Prentice Hall. Vol. II. 1996. ISBN-10: 0065011139.
Conkin, Paul Keith. The New Deal. USA: Crowell. 1967.
Norton, Mary Beth. A People and a Nation. New York: Houghton Mifflin.1998. ISBN:0395788838.