How did the Political Environment Change (1933-1945) Flashcards
What years were Roosevelt in Office
1933 - 1945 (when he died)
What was Roosevelt’s New Deal
A complete reform to the Governments attitude to socioeconomic intervention. Stressed that the government would do as much as it possibly could to provide help to the American people
What did Roosevelt gain approval for from Congress at the start of his term?
Special Emergency Powers for the Federal Government to overrule traditionally state-decided laws
What were set up as part of the New Deal (name 2 examples)
Alphabet Agencies like the NRA and AAA
What does NRA stand for and what did they do
National Recovery Administation - set up and enforced codes of practice for businesses, such as set working hours and a set minimum wage. Businesses didn’t HAVE to join the NRA but the public were encouraged to support businesses who did
What does AAA stand for and what did they do
Agricultural Adjustment Agency - regulated major products like wheat, cotton and milk. It bought surplus crops to support farmers and paid them subsidies to grow less of crops that were being overproduced to not cause major price per unit drops
What made Roosevelt especially popular with the public
He was very open and communicative with the media and public - he received letters from the public, and hosted ‘fireside chats’ on radio broadcast, explaining policy to Americans as if he was in their front room. This made the public feel he was on their side
What legacy was left by Roosevelt’s Presidency
The US public now expected the President to be far more involved in the formation of policy and legislation, far more open with national media, and people looked to the President as an idol
What legacy was left by the New Deal in particular
Other Presidents who introduced welfare reforms after Roosevelt used similar names, such as the Fair Deal (Truman) and the New Frontier (JFK)
What was Roosevelt’s stance on WW2 at the start
He assured the public the USA would remain neutral, but geared up the USA to supply the Allies, mostly the UK
How did WW2 affect the economy?
It led to a massive rise in employment due to the rise of the agricultural and arms industries to export to the UK
What did Roosevelt introduce after the UK could no longer afford US supplies
the Lend-Lease Act, which meant Britain could be given war supplies for free, if they returned the supplies kept and paid off any lost/consumed ones
What was the value of lend-lease supplies by the end of the war
$51 billion
How did Roosevelt help the UK military
Introduced for destroyers for bases deal, providing Britain 50 naval destroyers in return to naval base access
When and why did the USA join WW2?
8th December 1941, after the Pearl Harbor attacks in Hawaii
