Main Features of The New Deal
In 1929, the stock market collapsed causing a worldwide economic
depression, destroying America’s economy with many people losing their
life savings therefore thrusting them into unemployment and poverty.
Unemployment reached highs of over 13 million whilst the GNP for the
country reached as low as $58 billion, compared to the $100 billion+
pre depression figures, because demand and production fell so
dramatically. People were forced out of their homes and moved to
shantytowns known as ‘Hoovervilles’. The president in power at the
time, J. Edgar Hoover, refused to use the government funds in order to
help the American people. He believed that America was a land of
‘rugged individuals’ and that ‘prosperity was just around the corner’
and so people didn’t require any help, although, he did help set up
the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which lent money to banks,
industry and agriculture. However, this didn’t work as people thought
that it was ‘too little too late’ and the suffering continued.
In the 1932 elections, Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the presidency in
a landslide promising the American people a ‘New Deal’. When
Roosevelt entered the office in March 1933, he had an uphill struggle
with the USA in deep economic crisis. He spent the first 100 days from
March 9th to June 16th with a group of his employees working on
various different legislations which he managed to make the Congress
pass. This was Roosevelt’s New Deal. Its main aims were to help
America recover by reducing unemployment and poverty so that people
would have enough money and confidence to invest their money once
again a...
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...oblems with polio. He did what he had to do to help America
recover and improve unlike Hoover who simply waited for something to
happen. He was genuinely popular as he seemed as if he actually wanted
to help everyone. His regular fireside broadcasts and travels all
across America showed his personal side, portrayed him a family man
who cared. This restored a lot of confidence back into America, which
we know was one of the causes of the boom. Whether or not people
believe that Roosevelt succeeded, you couldn’t fault him for his
determination in times of pain and suffering which helped build the
foundations for a better America. He has the record for spending the
most terms in power and only forced to stop due to his health because
of his popularity which I believe is the best way to reflect how
successful he truly was.