Why did Roosevelt win the 1932 election?
Why did Roosevelt win the 1932 election? – 12 mark question
The Republican president, Herbert Hoover, was personally blamed for failing to deal with the consequences of the Wall Street Crash in October 1929. The Great Depression that followed was the most severe economic depression America had ever seen, and the whole world entered a state of poverty and hunger. Following the election in November 1932, Hoover was replaced by the Democratic leader, Franklin D Roosevelt, who aimed to tackle the Depression by introducing the ‘New Deal’. This consisted of a plan to stabilise the banking system, get Americans back to work, and to get American industry and agriculture back on their feet. Roosevelt reassured American people by saying, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror". He received 57% of votes, whereas Hoover received 40%, and most significantly, he won in 42 out of the total 48 states in the USA, showing he had the majority support in most areas of the USA.
Every group in American society was affected by the Depression, economically and psychologically. Many people lost confidence in themselves and the USA, with its proud record of economic expansion in previous decades. Unemployment rates shot up and 13 million people were left without work. The entire American banking system was on the edge of collapse and between 1929 and 1932 alone 5,000 banks went out of business. Many Americans died from starvation and illnesses related to lack of nutrition. Farmers were hit particularly badly by the Depression. Many were unable to pay mortgages or repay loans to banks and they were driven off their land with no option but to pack their bags and live on the streets. When sheriffs came to seize property, huge gangs of farmers forced them to retreat with the use of pitchforks and nooses. To add to their struggle, over-farming had caused the soil to become infertile and in the early 1930s, droughts and strong winds blew
The Republican president, Herbert Hoover, was personally blamed for failing to deal with the consequences of the Wall Street Crash in October 1929. The Great Depression that followed was the most severe economic depression America had ever seen, and the whole world entered a state of poverty and hunger. Following the election in November 1932, Hoover was replaced by the Democratic leader, Franklin D Roosevelt, who aimed to tackle the Depression by introducing the ‘New Deal’. This consisted of a plan to stabilise the banking system, get Americans back to work, and to get American industry and agriculture back on their feet. Roosevelt reassured American people by saying, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror". He received 57% of votes, whereas Hoover received 40%, and most significantly, he won in 42 out of the total 48 states in the USA, showing he had the majority support in most areas of the USA.
Every group in American society was affected by the Depression, economically and psychologically. Many people lost confidence in themselves and the USA, with its proud record of economic expansion in previous decades. Unemployment rates shot up and 13 million people were left without work. The entire American banking system was on the edge of collapse and between 1929 and 1932 alone 5,000 banks went out of business. Many Americans died from starvation and illnesses related to lack of nutrition. Farmers were hit particularly badly by the Depression. Many were unable to pay mortgages or repay loans to banks and they were driven off their land with no option but to pack their bags and live on the streets. When sheriffs came to seize property, huge gangs of farmers forced them to retreat with the use of pitchforks and nooses. To add to their struggle, over-farming had caused the soil to become infertile and in the early 1930s, droughts and strong winds blew