President's New Deal example essay topic

"There are very few things that we can know before hand. We will try, and if we decide that we are wrong, we will have to change". -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt about his promise of 'a New Deal for the forgotten man. ' These are the words of a courageous man who demonstrated inspiration and hope to a country that had appeared to have spun out of economic control, a country in desperation. On October 24th, 1929, the stock market crashed, causing a domino effect on the American public during the first years of the 1930's.

The standard of living dropped dramatically, millions, more than one-fourth, of people were put out of work, banks were closed, international trade was stagnant, homeless families roamed streets, farms were foreclosed; all faith in capitalism had diminished. The topple of the economy was caused by an uneven distribution of wealth that allowed for luxurious spending and gambling on the stock market, which encouraged large corporations to produce more than could be bought by consumers. A pessimistic Hoover had left the United States in the middle of its worst crisis since the Civil War. "It seemed as if they (the citizens of the United States) would do anything, if only someone would tell them what to do", said wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, about the throngs of Americans crowded around their radios listening to President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration on March 4th, 1933. He would be the 32nd President. He had promised a recipe for recovery to the very same millions who's' president had abandoned them, and it made him an over-night sensation.

Charm and persuasion was what the citizens needed, not someone telling then that all hope was lost. "There is a duty on the part of the government to do something about this", said F.D.R. He was in great opposition to Hoover's "rugged individualism" approach and believed that only mass government intervention could revive, or even lift the economy out of its debt. His ease with public speaking, all-American appearance, and optimistic approach were not his only presidential campaign platforms, however. Years before this presidential election, F.D.R. had been active in politics, serving as Vice President at the young age of 38.

At the age of 39, Infantile Paralysis, or Polio, struck Franklin down in his upward aspiration towards president. He fell into a deep depression, travelling far from his family, suffering from cold legs, backaches, fever, and disillusionment. Ultimately, he lost the use of his legs and became virtually helpless. Everyone thought that his political career was finished.

Instead of lying motionless, something Franklin had never done, he committed himself to the helping and inspiration of others. He started a rehabilitation center for Polio victims in Warm Springs, Georgia, and earned the nickname, "Rosy". From this experience, F.D.R. gained a national reputation for overcoming not only personal struggle, but also helping others in desperate situations. As for former President, Herbert Hoover, a lonely letter followed elections, "Vote for Roosevelt and make it unanimous!" Beliefs, however, were not enough to convince a whole country to fight its way out of depression, so F.D.R. had bold, new ideas.

The Roosevelt Administration, a group of experts who Roosevelt took into office with him, developed The New Deal. The New Deal had four different strategic categories: Relief, Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction. The Deal was designed to use the federal government's power to help resuscitate the economy by 'trying' anything and everything. Although New Deal legislation was improving the lives of the average to unfortunate Americans through laws and administrations such as the Social Security Act, The Works Progress Administrations Act (WPA), the Agricultural Adjustment Administration ( ), the Emergency Banking Relief Act, the Civilian Conservation Corps Act ( ), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the National Recovery Administration (NRA), Franklin still faced skeptical criticism. Because he raced toward American, social and economic equality, ignoring inherited rank, many upper-class citizens developed a deep hatred for F.D. R, claiming the New Deal was like a stab in the back of the well to do. Republicans argued that the government had developed too big of a role in economy under the Roosevelt Administration.

Prominent businessmen joined to form the Liberty League, an organization formed to stop further New Deal legislation. Radicals, such as Father Charles Coughlin, who gave national radio broadcasts bashing the New Deal and demanding a living annual wage and the nationalization of banks, Francis Townsend, who spoke publicly of old age pension plans, and Senator Hey Long, with his "Share the Wealth" campaign, attacked the president's New Deal. The people wanted a crowd-pleasing super-hero with quick-adhesive super-glue. Roosevelt, however, was not alone in his idealistic plan. First Lady, Eleanor, traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on her own throughout the country investigating, first-hand the thoughts of the American people and reporting back to Franklin. Concerned with the welfare of the population, Franklin stood strong by his New Deal, despite scrutiny, pushing on government intervention.

By the end of his first term, the wealthy were paying higher taxes, laborers had the right to bargain collectively, he brought cheap electric power to urban areas, and large industries were unified.