DBQ: FDR

The prosperity of the roaring 1920s left Americans shocked and unprepared for the economic depression that ravaged the country in the 1930s. On October 29th, 1929, the stock market crashed and almost every American was affected. Due to the laissez-faire methods of then president Herbert Hoover the depression worsened sustainably. Luckily in 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected into office and took action with many programs that influenced the government greatly. Soon after, the election of FDR and his many “alphabet soup” programs in his first 100 days addressed the nation’s call for help. He quickly created many government programs to try to curb the effects of the depression and help the poor and homeless who were affected. Many of the programs that he created are still intact today. One such program is Social Security as shown in Document E. This program is considered one of the greatest achievements of the new deal. It addressed elderly citizens’ lack of care, and provided money for those over 65. He also created many other programs that are still intact today including the TVA, which creates jobs in Tennessee, the SEC, a committee that regulates the stock market, and the FDIC which insures banks. The Roosevelt Administration also attempted to address the needs of citizens, both socially and economically. An especially great effort was made by FDR’s wife, Eleanor, who

fought for women and Blacks and helped them gain some recognition and had receive improved rights. Some of the New Deal programs included Blacks such as those that were spoken of in Document I. In the document The Crisis spoke about how this was the first time that “Government has taken on meaning and substance for the negro masses”. The Great Depression also brought into light the unfair perception of women. During the depression, women were rarely seen waiting in bread lines and sleeping in the streets even thought they faced the same hardship, as shown in Document A. The pride many of these women held influenced the need of these women to hide their suffering in order to fit the image that was expected of them. Economically, Roosevelt attempted to provide relief to the citizens who had lost their jobs and money. One program enacted was the CCC. It is extremely evident that unemployment increased sharply during the Great Depression by the graph in document J. The graph shows a sudden increase in unemployment in 1929. The CCC provided jobs by planting trees, building roads and bridges, and many nationwide improvements. This all at once created jobs and increased the overall condition of the United States. Though Roosevelt’s plans helped the country’s economy these programs caused much controversy because some believed in less intervention of the government. The many jobs and aid these programs made possible caused some to compare the New Deal to steps toward socialism and communism as told in Document B. The previous laissez-faire tradition was broken that many Americans were used to and established in its place was a more active federal government. For example in Document D William Lloyd Garrison highlighted how Roosevelt spent 6 billion dollars to attempt to fix the economy. This was certainly not the laissez-faire government that America had grown accustomed to. In conclusion, Roosevelt’s and his administration increased the role of the government in the economy. These new strategies lead to the creation of many programs that would influence the country greatly. Many of these programs are still active today. His New Deal programs were successful in both empowering the government and lightening the effect of the Depression on the country.