Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal

The Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal

The great depression of the 1930s was one of America’s worst economic crises. With unemployment rates as high as 25%, a vast majority of Americans were out meaningful employment. Starvation and homelessness were commonplace with a crippled banking system only aggravating the situation. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s election into office in 1933 heralded a new beginning for the struggling American populace.

Roosevelt’s New Deal Programs

Roosevelt initiated a series of programs aimed towards relief from the effects of the great depression. These programs targeted the collapsing banking sector, relieving Americans burdened by the economic crisis, and creating employment. For instance, the Civilian Conservation Corps or the CCC utilized reforestation and other conservation projects to employ the youth. Other programs, such as the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), provided financial assistance to agencies that supported struggling unemployed Americans. Therefore, the programs Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated through the ’New Deal’ stabilized the economy and set the stage for a slow but sure recovery.

The Second New Deal

Although the new deal programs did not completely move Americans out of depression, it did give hope to a majority of suffering unemployed people. Franklin D Roosevelt was cognizant of the fact that more needed to be done to cushion the ordinary citizen. He, therefore, initiated a set of new programs ’The Second new deal.’ The main aim of the programs was to secure vulnerable people; the old, ill or injured workers and the unemployed from the effects of the depression. In addition, these programs sought to use national resources better and create a work relief agenda. Roosevelt’s programs redistributed wealth, power and income amongst the poor farmers and labor unions, and gained him great support from the unions and ethnic minorities. This support was crucial for his re-election campaigns. The formation of the ’new deal coalition’ which included the labor unions, minority groups, farmers, intellectuals among others, who strongly supported the new deal and ensured a democratic majority for a better part of the 20th century.

Progressivism and Populism in the New Deal Era

Progressivism refers to a set of actions or policies that aim to improve the socio-economic welfare of ordinary people. Proponents of progressivism seek socioeconomic equity through redistributing wealth, improving the conditions of the minority and better managing resources. On the other hand, populism prioritizes the needs of the people over that of the elite. Therefore, such policies seek to ensure that the ’minority’ is not overprivileged at the expense of the ’people.’ Throughout the new deal era, Franklin Roosevelt’s main aim was to improve the life of the ordinary citizen and offer relief from the depression.

The Second New Deal Programs

A raft of new programs of the ’second new deal’ was specifically created to improve the lives of the elderly, those injured at work, ethnic minorities and the farmers. A good example would be the social security act that provided for the elderly who were unable to care for themselves. Therefore, Franklin Roosevelt’s programs were mostly based on populist and progressive ideas.

The Recession of 1937 and the New Deal Policies

Although the new deal had had much success during President Franklin Roosevelt’s first term, his second term witnessed an unprecedented slump. Starting in 1937, the economy took a downward trend with unemployment rates increasing from 14% to about 19% by 1938. The levels of production declined sharply and most businesses were registering losses. The economic slump was mostly attributed to the changes brought about by new deal programs that most businesses considered hostile. Economists of the time argued that the move by Franklin Roosevelt to control spending and achieving a balanced budget was negatively impacted people’s purchasing power. The recession of 1937 took a political turn as the conservative business owners blamed the Roosevelt administration and its new deal policies. On the other hand, Franklin Roosevelt believed that the recession was a move by the conservatives to turn political favor to Republicans. The economy eventually recovered, though this recovery was not a direct consequence of the new deal programs alone but was brought about by the onset of war.

America’s Shift from Isolationism to Involvement in World War II

The end of the first world war heralded the new era of isolationism in the United States. Proponents of isolationism argued that the massive casualties of the war did not justify the limited stake America had on the war’s outcome. As a result, most of the period before the second world war saw public opinion favor non-involvement in the tumultuous European affairs. However, America was alive towards the threat of Fascism that was slowly and steadily growing in Germany, Italy, and Japan in the 1930s.

America’s Involvement in World War II

After war broke out in Europe in 1939, America maintained its isolationist stand but loosened its position on complete neutrality. The United States thus took on a passive role in the war by supplying weapons, munitions, and other necessary items to keep the allied war machinery moving. However, the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces ultimately forced public opinion to shift from isolationism to complete involvement in the war.

American Victory and the Consequences of World War II

The entire military campaign of the axis in the second world war was premised on the idea of fascist control. The notion of democracy and free will were, to these powers, highly detrimental to sustained economic and social growth. America, on the other hand, was built on the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice for all which was trues despite the rampant racism of the time. Therefore, a successful campaign in Europe by the Fascist would have meant that sooner or later fascist powers would be within America’s borders. If the axis powers had controlled the United States, then the world would have been living under a total authoritarian order, where free will is all but absent. Certainly, Hitler’s greatest desire.

America’s Role in Defeating Fascism

Although America had taken a neutral position in the early years of the war, they were dragged into the war by Japanese aggression. America’s involvement in the war essentially tipped the tide of war and increased the chances of allied victory and dealt a big blow to the global spread of fascism.

American Prosperity Post-World War II

The death and devastation brought about by the tremendous violence of the second world war were catastrophic. However, the outcomes of the war greatly favored the United States of America. The United States entered the war later than her allied counterparts. Therefore, whereas most of the belligerents exhausted their finances in the war, America’s economy remained relatively stable and poised to take over as an economic superpower at the end of the war.

America’s Economic Recovery and Global Position

In addition, the war industry that developed at the beginning of the conflict was vital in saving America from the great depression. The isolationist and neutrality policies enabled American industries to supply war-related commodities without violating any treaties or appearing to be in direct aid of any of the warring factions. Therefore, these policies boosted industrialization, created jobs and improved the country’s economic situation. America played a vital role in the defeat of the Axis powers on the European and Pacific fronts. These successes were crucial in cementing America’s global position. A position it still holds today as the most powerful country in the world. In addition, the participation of ethnic minorities in the conflict removed racial prejudices and gained recognition for the sacrifices they made to maintain the American way of life.