1932 Election Flashcards
Hoover background
Self-made businessman
Bad reputation among citizens, known as ‘Do Nothing President’
Roosevelt background
NY governor, attended Harvard
Warm and attractive personality
Wife Eleanor Roosevelt feminist activist
Related to President Theodore Roosevelt
Republican policies
‘Laissez-faire’
Rugged individualism and non-interventionsim
Protectionism - tariffs on imports
Did not believe in social security as Gov’s responsibility
let trusts run industries
Democrat policies
Active government focused on ordinary people
Spend public money to decrease unemployment
Asked experts for advice
Promised ‘new deal’
Republican benefits
For wealthy businessmen: able to do what they wanted
Democrat benefits
Poor (FERA)
Unemployed (CCC)
Farmers (AAA)
Republican downsides
Poor: no chance for change
Homeless/ill: no social security
Old industries and farming
International relations due to tariffs
Democrat downsides
Big trusts that would be taxed
RESULTS
FDR won by 7 million votes
42/48 states
Worst defeat for republicans in USA history so far
FDR longest serving president ever; 16 years (4 reelections)
Effective Democrat Campaign
Train tour of USA over 20.000km -> showed iniciative
FDR’s confident speedhes, 16 major + emotive
Used radio to adress public directly: innovative. ‘Fireside Chats’ with 60 million weekly listeners
REFORM RECOVERY RELIEF
Roosevelt personality
Warm and confident
Made personal contact with public
‘Man of the people’
Failure of Republican Policies (after Gd)
Inaction angered people
Policies not working (individualism and protectionism)
No intervention had been cause of GD
Measures (i.e Hoover Dam) didn’t match problems (25% unemployment)
Experiences of ordinary americans
Massive poverty and despair
Needed change (Roosevelt promised ‘New Deal’)
Hatred at Hoover (e.g Hoovervilles)
