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 restored American confidence in the midst of the Great Depression. Despite his own personal trauma through illness he was a charismatic, intelligent and patient President. After the gloomy years of President Hoover, FDR exuded optimism that gave sureness to America that the economic situation would improve. He connected with the public regularly through his radio broadcasts, which represented a certain accessibility of the president to the people.
The New Deal is said to have saved American capitalism. It did away with child labour, helped to regulate the stock market, made bank deposits safe and encouraged workers unions, among many other developments. This economic policy gave the federal government a more active role in citizens’ every day lives. Through investment in public infrastructure FDR’s New Deal put many young Americans back to work.
Despite an increase in the unemployment rate and the greatest depression America has ever been faced with, FDR is continued to be remembered as possibly the greatest President of the United States. This is mainly due to the high morale he was able to inspire and create in one of America’s darkest times. During his first one hundred days in office, he introduced many laws and policies that gave urgent relief to the citizens and boosted the American economy. To reach out to the restless nation, FDR turned to radio giving speeches boosting morale and giving the people an understanding of what the government’s plans were for the economy. FDR enacted the New Deal to counteract the problems faced by the depression, including the Works Progress Administration, which generated countless jobs for the unemployed.
It is not surprising that FDR is remembered as a great president, after the gloom of the Great Depression era, a fresh face for America with new optimism was needed in order to boost morale and to build up confidence. The new methods of communication, most notably his ‘Fireside chats’ allowed FDR to connect to the public in a way no president before him could. Although FDR wanted to change the existing structures and had new initiatives he also wanted to stay true to the American way and preserve their beliefs and values. Despite the drawbacks of the New Deal and its failures in many ways, there is no denying that the new form of government intervention had inspired a change in American politics that still exists to this day. Many would also say that FDR signified the start of the new American century. Shara Samra
In 1932, the year before FDR took office, the unemployment rate had almost hit twenty-five percent. This devastating figure reflected the immeasurable damage that the Great Depression was causing. FDR began his first term in 1933 and immediately sought to re-vitalise the economy and improve the unemployment rate through new policies such as the Emergency Banking Act. Although the unemployment rate was still very high many years into his presidency, it was important to note that it was slowly but surely decreasing. He also enhanced the optimism of the American people through his innovative ‘fireside chats’.
Historians and the general public often label FDR as one of the greatest American presidents, some crediting him with single-handedly pulling the American nation out of the despair that was the Great Depression. However there have been arguments that the Great Depression only came to an end due to World War II, not FDR’s economic policies. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Franklin D Roosevelt was and still is highly regarded by the American people.
FDR was great because he managed to preserve an endangered economy whilst improving the rights of the people; he managed to take care of both the necessities for the countries stability, and at the same time to begin a revolution in the rights and welfare of the people. This is particularly impressive given the time in which FDR was president; it was the time of “the depression” and a time of war. Additionally, FDR was not only effective with his leadership and policies but somehow at the same time a man of the people and for the people. This is how a president is supposed to be but rarely is.
FDR's introduction of new policies (the Emergency Banking Act, the Farms program, etc.) under the New Deal along with his 'accessibility' to the public through his many social engagements and his fireside chats, gave America a positive outlook on the future, a wealth of employment opportunities and helped the people connect with a man who is usually kept behind closed doors. It is because of the decisions he made to help America re-build after a time of great economic strain and the attitude he had towards his Presidency and what that meant that FDR's Presidency is seen as one of the greatest in America.
As many of the above responses explain, FDR is remembered as a great President due to the success of the New Deal, and other economic measures, in bringing America out of the Great Depression and setting them on the road to economic recovery. These policies led to an increased role for the presidential office and coincided with widespread media coverage of the President through fireside chats and an average of 6.05 news conferences each month, more than any President since then. FDR also led America through WWII to a victory with relatively little hardship felt on the home front. FDR’s opponents were silenced by the success of his policies and actions and this has enabled widespread positive remembrance of FDR by the American population and scholars alike.
Scholars and the American people may regard FDR as being a great President because he made a positive impact to the country's economy at such a pivotal time in American history. Whilst America was going through the Great Depression, FDR set out to restore hope in the American people by rapidly implementing ‘New Deal’ policies, which he hoped would bring the country out of its economic crisis. FDR gained popularity with the American people through his fireside chats and his determination to help working class Americans. Scholars have suggested that the New Deal helped prices and employment to rise steadily. Therefore, Americans may hold FDR in high regard because they believe that he played a crucial role in bringing America out of its Depression.
I agree with the ideas put forward by Tamara, Alyssia, Shara and Kate, in the sense that much of FDR’s appeal had its origins in his apparently extreme optimism in a period of such great depression. However, the FDR administration is not the only optimistic presidency America has seen (although admittedly, FDR’s optimism was perhaps the most contrasting with his presidency’s circumstances – the GD and WWII).
I also agree with Thomas in the correlation between the economy and the rise of the welfare state; FDR considered economic rights the ‘precondition of liberty’.
It is my opinion, however, that FDR’s most attractive attribute as president was also perhaps one of his most criticised – his administration of executive power, in bypassing stagnancy of American democratic process. FDR’s first 100 days saw the implementation of 15 pieces of major legislation. Whilst much American sentiment and scholarship recoils at the ‘fascist’ nature of this power, it still presents a somewhat favourable contrast with the regular pace of legislative progression both prior and since.
FDR is often considered one of the greatest US presidents for his efforts in developing policies and programs that helped to ease the burden of the Great Depression, as well as for his ‘fireside chats’ with the people and his radiating optimism in the face of the US's worst ever economic crisis.
His economic policy, dubbed ‘The New Deal’ put thousands of work on government stimulus projects, encouraged the increased importance of labour unions and brought in legislation that ensured that employees were treated fairly across the workforce. Although the US took many years to recover, it was FDR’s policies that ultimately sped up the process and ended the Great Depression.
I agree with Aiden that FDR's use of executive power in a time of great political uncertainty and stagnation in congress is perhaps the greatest aspect of his legacy. In addition the New Deal set the ground work for an American welfare system which had been at best extremely limited before this point. It also gave the federal government a new lease of life as a body that was also able to create growth in the economy rather than simply controlling it.
While some of the improvements made by FDR have since been removed or allowed to fall away, the backbone of the system he implemented helps millions of Americans every day and, despite these numbers can be credited with lessening the impact of the Great Depression on the American economy.
I think FDR was remembered so, for reasons that circulated between the extremely ambitious policies he implemented (particularly the second deal), the effect that they had on the quality of life for American citizens, the change of political discourse that it brought to American governance. The “Relief, Recovery and Reform “policies were equally important but I think it was the social reform policies that have remained most profound (WPA, Social Security and the Unions). FDR was also a very poignant character in his time, physically and intellectually - a symbol of adversity amid adversity and I think there is weight in the idea that he is remembered so, as much for his policies as for his charisma and symbolism.
FDR navigated America through one of the worst periods in its history during the Great Depression. The gravity of the challenges that America was facing during this period made FDR’s success in restoring confidence and reestablishing a sense of direction even more significant. FDR’s popularity also helps dispel the notion that America is inherently conservative. As Aiden has mentioned, FDR’s most notable legacy is his redefining of the executive power. Not only did FDR utilise it to put a swift arrest on America’s economic decline, he also established the foundations of social security for generations of Americans, which explains his continued popularity to this day.
Franklin D Roosevelt was one of the most influential presidents in American history. As Kate has suggested, FDR is often accredited for single handedly pulling America out of the Great Depression. As a charismatic leader FDR was able to boost American morale and confidence in a time of desperation, leading the nation through it greatest economic crises. Furthermore, FDR's 'New Deal' not only promised to end the Great Depression but also put many American's back to work, strengthened the rights of workers, gave more power to labour unions and proved the strength of American capitalism.
Despite unemployment rising significantly over the decade between 1929 – 1939, FDR is remembered fondly by Americans for his ability to inspire the public during the Great Depression. His role as a leader during this time, and the New Deal, got the US back to work and ensured social security. FDR’s ability to make it happen helped boost the economy and the spirits of a generation of Americans. His connection with the people was strengthened in his ‘fireside chats’, which revolutionized the way in which the president was able to communicate.
The question of who is the greatest president ever focuses more on intangible criteria such as the ability to inspire. There is little doubt that, through his contact with the people via the fireside chats and his move from ‘Dr. New Deal’ to ‘Dr. Win-the war’, FDR managed to capture the imagination of the American public. While he struggled to improve the unemployment situation in the United States, his leadership changed the office of the presidency for the better. This profound influence on the nature of American politics is the reason that scholars and the American public regard FDR as the greatest president in American history.
FDR restored American confidence in the midst of the Great Depression. Despite his own personal trauma through illness he was a charismatic, intelligent and patient President. After the gloomy years of President Hoover, FDR exuded optimism that gave sureness to America that the economic situation would improve. He connected with the public regularly through his radio broadcasts, which represented a certain accessibility of the president to the people.
ReplyDeleteThe New Deal is said to have saved American capitalism. It did away with child labour, helped to regulate the stock market, made bank deposits safe and encouraged workers unions, among many other developments. This economic policy gave the federal government a more active role in citizens’ every day lives. Through investment in public infrastructure FDR’s New Deal put many young Americans back to work.
Tamara Ungar
22047174
Despite an increase in the unemployment rate and the greatest depression America has ever been faced with, FDR is continued to be remembered as possibly the greatest President of the United States. This is mainly due to the high morale he was able to inspire and create in one of America’s darkest times. During his first one hundred days in office, he introduced many laws and policies that gave urgent relief to the citizens and boosted the American economy. To reach out to the restless nation, FDR turned to radio giving speeches boosting morale and giving the people an understanding of what the government’s plans were for the economy. FDR enacted the New Deal to counteract the problems faced by the depression, including the Works Progress Administration, which generated countless jobs for the unemployed.
ReplyDeleteAlyssia Rudd
24215694
It is not surprising that FDR is remembered as a great president, after the gloom of the Great Depression era, a fresh face for America with new optimism was needed in order to boost morale and to build up confidence. The new methods of communication, most notably his ‘Fireside chats’ allowed FDR to connect to the public in a way no president before him could. Although FDR wanted to change the existing structures and had new initiatives he also wanted to stay true to the American way and preserve their beliefs and values. Despite the drawbacks of the New Deal and its failures in many ways, there is no denying that the new form of government intervention had inspired a change in American politics that still exists to this day. Many would also say that FDR signified the start of the new American century.
ReplyDeleteShara Samra
In 1932, the year before FDR took office, the unemployment rate had almost hit twenty-five percent. This devastating figure reflected the immeasurable damage that the Great Depression was causing. FDR began his first term in 1933 and immediately sought to re-vitalise the economy and improve the unemployment rate through new policies such as the Emergency Banking Act. Although the unemployment rate was still very high many years into his presidency, it was important to note that it was slowly but surely decreasing. He also enhanced the optimism of the American people through his innovative ‘fireside chats’.
ReplyDeleteHistorians and the general public often label FDR as one of the greatest American presidents, some crediting him with single-handedly pulling the American nation out of the despair that was the Great Depression. However there have been arguments that the Great Depression only came to an end due to World War II, not FDR’s economic policies. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Franklin D Roosevelt was and still is highly regarded by the American people.
Kate Rivington
23379820
FDR was great because he managed to preserve an endangered economy whilst improving the rights of the people; he managed to take care of both the necessities for the countries stability, and at the same time to begin a revolution in the rights and welfare of the people. This is particularly impressive given the time in which FDR was president; it was the time of “the depression” and a time of war. Additionally, FDR was not only effective with his leadership and policies but somehow at the same time a man of the people and for the people. This is how a president is supposed to be but rarely is.
ReplyDeleteThomas Owens
19442661
FDR's introduction of new policies (the Emergency Banking Act, the Farms program, etc.) under the New Deal along with his 'accessibility' to the public through his many social engagements and his fireside chats, gave America a positive outlook on the future, a wealth of employment opportunities and helped the people connect with a man who is usually kept behind closed doors. It is because of the decisions he made to help America re-build after a time of great economic strain and the attitude he had towards his Presidency and what that meant that FDR's Presidency is seen as one of the greatest in America.
ReplyDeleteHayley Toth
2213 2422
As many of the above responses explain, FDR is remembered as a great President due to the success of the New Deal, and other economic measures, in bringing America out of the Great Depression and setting them on the road to economic recovery. These policies led to an increased role for the presidential office and coincided with widespread media coverage of the President through fireside chats and an average of 6.05 news conferences each month, more than any President since then. FDR also led America through WWII to a victory with relatively little hardship felt on the home front. FDR’s opponents were silenced by the success of his policies and actions and this has enabled widespread positive remembrance of FDR by the American population and scholars alike.
ReplyDeleteElyse Corzelius
Scholars and the American people may regard FDR as being a great President because he made a positive impact to the country's economy at such a pivotal time in American history. Whilst America was going through the Great Depression, FDR set out to restore hope in the American people by rapidly implementing ‘New Deal’ policies, which he hoped would bring the country out of its economic crisis. FDR gained popularity with the American people through his fireside chats and his determination to help working class Americans. Scholars have suggested that the New Deal helped prices and employment to rise steadily. Therefore, Americans may hold FDR in high regard because they believe that he played a crucial role in bringing America out of its Depression.
ReplyDeleteShalomi Anandarajan
I agree with the ideas put forward by Tamara, Alyssia, Shara and Kate, in the sense that much of FDR’s appeal had its origins in his apparently extreme optimism in a period of such great depression. However, the FDR administration is not the only optimistic presidency America has seen (although admittedly, FDR’s optimism was perhaps the most contrasting with his presidency’s circumstances – the GD and WWII).
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Thomas in the correlation between the economy and the rise of the welfare state; FDR considered economic rights the ‘precondition of liberty’.
It is my opinion, however, that FDR’s most attractive attribute as president was also perhaps one of his most criticised – his administration of executive power, in bypassing stagnancy of American democratic process. FDR’s first 100 days saw the implementation of 15 pieces of major legislation. Whilst much American sentiment and scholarship recoils at the ‘fascist’ nature of this power, it still presents a somewhat favourable contrast with the regular pace of legislative progression both prior and since.
Aiden McKee
24231061
FDR is often considered one of the greatest US presidents for his efforts in developing policies and programs that helped to ease the burden of the Great Depression, as well as for his ‘fireside chats’ with the people and his radiating optimism in the face of the US's worst ever economic crisis.
ReplyDeleteHis economic policy, dubbed ‘The New Deal’ put thousands of work on government stimulus projects, encouraged the increased importance of labour unions and brought in legislation that ensured that employees were treated fairly across the workforce. Although the US took many years to recover, it was FDR’s policies that ultimately sped up the process and ended the Great Depression.
Stefan Nowak
25181033
I agree with Aiden that FDR's use of executive power in a time of great political uncertainty and stagnation in congress is perhaps the greatest aspect of his legacy. In addition the New Deal set the ground work for an American welfare system which had been at best extremely limited before this point. It also gave the federal government a new lease of life as a body that was also able to create growth in the economy rather than simply controlling it.
ReplyDeleteWhile some of the improvements made by FDR have since been removed or allowed to fall away, the backbone of the system he implemented helps millions of Americans every day and, despite these numbers can be credited with lessening the impact of the Great Depression on the American economy.
I think FDR was remembered so, for reasons that circulated between the extremely ambitious policies he implemented (particularly the second deal), the effect that they had on the quality of life for American citizens, the change of political discourse that it brought to American governance. The “Relief, Recovery and Reform “policies were equally important but I think it was the social reform policies that have remained most profound (WPA, Social Security and the Unions). FDR was also a very poignant character in his time, physically and intellectually - a symbol of adversity amid adversity and I think there is weight in the idea that he is remembered so, as much for his policies as for his charisma and symbolism.
ReplyDeleteFDR navigated America through one of the worst periods in its history during the Great Depression. The gravity of the challenges that America was facing during this period made FDR’s success in restoring confidence and reestablishing a sense of direction even more significant. FDR’s popularity also helps dispel the notion that America is inherently conservative. As Aiden has mentioned, FDR’s most notable legacy is his redefining of the executive power. Not only did FDR utilise it to put a swift arrest on America’s economic decline, he also established the foundations of social security for generations of Americans, which explains his continued popularity to this day.
ReplyDeleteGhian Tjandaputra Muhammad
21762198
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFranklin D Roosevelt was one of the most influential presidents in American history. As Kate has suggested, FDR is often accredited for single handedly pulling America out of the Great Depression. As a charismatic leader FDR was able to boost American morale and confidence in a time of desperation, leading the nation through it greatest economic crises. Furthermore, FDR's 'New Deal' not only promised to end the Great Depression but also put many American's back to work, strengthened the rights of workers, gave more power to labour unions and proved the strength of American capitalism.
ReplyDeleteBianca Sacco
23409029
Despite unemployment rising significantly over the decade between 1929 – 1939, FDR is remembered fondly by Americans for his ability to inspire the public during the Great Depression. His role as a leader during this time, and the New Deal, got the US back to work and ensured social security. FDR’s ability to make it happen helped boost the economy and the spirits of a generation of Americans. His connection with the people was strengthened in his ‘fireside chats’, which revolutionized the way in which the president was able to communicate.
ReplyDeleteMadeleine Mulcahy
22617256
The question of who is the greatest president ever focuses more on intangible criteria such as the ability to inspire. There is little doubt that, through his contact with the people via the fireside chats and his move from ‘Dr. New Deal’ to ‘Dr. Win-the war’, FDR managed to capture the imagination of the American public. While he struggled to improve the unemployment situation in the United States, his leadership changed the office of the presidency for the better. This profound influence on the nature of American politics is the reason that scholars and the American public regard FDR as the greatest president in American history.
ReplyDelete