The changing political environment 1933-45

Question 1

what did Roosevelt offer

Answer 1

a new deal and a new attitude to government

he was an excellent communicator and proved effective as governor of New York

Question 2

what did Roosevelt suggest hoovers campaign was being run by

Answer 2

4 horsemen of the apocalypse
destruction despair delay and doubt

Question 3

how many voters went to vote at the 1932 election

Answer 3

40 million the highest number ever in American history

Question 4

why did the republicans unravel even more after Roosevelt won

Answer 4

were so busy contesting the stream of legislation introduced by Roosevelt administration that they weren’t able to plan their own policies to make them seem a viable alternative

Question 5

what were the influences on the political landscape during the Roosevelt years

Answer 5

the Great Depression
the new deal
Roosevelts ideas activism and charisma
WW2

Question 6

what did Roosevelt influence

Answer 6

role of the federal government in relation to society and the economy

natur,role and power of us president

Democratic Party

post WW1 and americas role in it

Question 7

what did Franklin Roosevelt introduce while he was New York governor

Answer 7

large scale relief and public programmes

Question 8

what was illustrated in the new deal legislation that Roosevelt passed in his first 100 days as president

Answer 8

to restore prosperity and faith in the devistated economy

Question 9

what was unemployment like when Roosevelt came to power

Answer 9

25% of the work force unemployed
crops rotted in fields
12% of farmers had lost their land
factories stood idle
banks failed or closed
thousands of people couldn’t pay their mortgages

Question 10

what did the new deal legislation aim to do

Answer 10

solve the overproduction problem by paying the farmers to produce less

regulated banking and stock exchange

aimed to revitalise the industry create jobs ad provide some direct relief for the unemployed

Question 11

what was the second new deal in 1935

Answer 11

the social security act

Question 12

what did the social security act of 1935 do

Answer 12

established the federal governments responsibility for the provision of direct relief for the unemployed and the elderly

Question 13

what was the significance of the new deal

Answer 13

increased the social and economic role of the government and moved away from the laissez faire attitude

Question 14

what did hoover even admit in this era

Answer 14

laissez faire attitude was dead and industrialisation , urbanisation, the great depression and FDR seemed to have killed off rugged individualism

Question 15

why did some wealthy business men resent Roosevelts new ideas

Answer 15

fear his new ideas opened a door to socialism and other considered him insufficiently radical

Question 16

what was the post war consensus that his new deal created

Answer 16

1944 election platform supported the extension of the new deals social security measures (pensions for elderly and benefits for the unemployed) and many business men excepted that the gov should play part in managing the US economy

Question 17

The new deal produced a semi welfare state what is that?

Answer 17

A state that looks after citizens from cradle to grave

Question 18

what did liberty of an individual turn into

Answer 18

liberty of a community

Question 19

how was Roosevelt a highly visible president

Answer 19

open top limo for 4 hour election campaign across NYC

Opened a building at Howard university and inspired the black students there

very ill but still visting military hospital 1944

Question 20

what was Roosevelts relationship with the press like

Answer 20

good relationship , relaxed, friendly and direct

Question 21

what did Roosevelt use in order to speak directly tl the public

Answer 21

radio broadcasts

Question 22

what were his fireside chats for

Answer 22

used every day language to explain his policies.

voice authoritative but friendly and reassuring

Question 23

what percentage of Americans listened to Roosevelts speeches

Answer 23

75%

it was broadcast in movie theatres shops and restaurants

Question 24

what was the daily average letters that Roosevelt received

Answer 24

4000

Question 25

what had Roosevelt realised about the president power after ww1

Answer 25

that presidentcy had become the centre of the political life

he had more control than before and needed to focus on the publics hopes and expectations

Question 26

why did Roosevelt oppose total federal government control over the social insurance system in 1934

Answer 26

he didn’t want it to fall under the wrong president and them have to much power and abuse it (Huey long)

others worried that Roosevelt already had too much power

Question 27

what was Roosevelt judiciary reform bill

Answer 27

Supreme Court justices should retire at 70 and their number could be increased to 15

(people worried as felt like dictatorship)

Question 28

why did isolationism continue under Roosevelt

Answer 28

• he’d always been a supporter of Wilsons ideas
• US had historically avoided entangling allainces
• Many Americans disliked the English and French for not paying back debts and felt that all europeans were the same

-most Americans were already preoccupied with their own economic problems and had lost there national self confidence after the Great Depression