The changing political environment 1933-45 Flashcards
what did Roosevelt offer
a new deal and a new attitude to government
he was an excellent communicator and proved effective as governor of New York
what did Roosevelt suggest hoovers campaign was being run by
4 horsemen of the apocalypse
destruction despair delay and doubt
how many voters went to vote at the 1932 election
40 million the highest number ever in American history
why did the republicans unravel even more after Roosevelt won
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
what were the influences on the political landscape during the Roosevelt years
the Great Depression
the new deal
Roosevelts ideas activism and charisma
WW2
what did Roosevelt influence
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
what did Franklin Roosevelt introduce while he was New York governor
large scale relief and public programmes
what was illustrated in the new deal legislation that Roosevelt passed in his first 100 days as president
to restore prosperity and faith in the devistated economy
what was unemployment like when Roosevelt came to power
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
what did the new deal legislation aim to do
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
what was the second new deal in 1935
the social security act
what did the social security act of 1935 do
established the federal governments responsibility for the provision of direct relief for the unemployed and the elderly
what was the significance of the new deal
increased the social and economic role of the government and moved away from the laissez faire attitude
what did hoover even admit in this era
laissez faire attitude was dead and industrialisation , urbanisation, the great depression and FDR seemed to have killed off rugged individualism
why did some wealthy business men resent Roosevelts new ideas
fear his new ideas opened a door to socialism and other considered him insufficiently radical
what was the post war consensus that his new deal created
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
The new deal produced a semi welfare state what is that?
A state that looks after citizens from cradle to grave
what did liberty of an individual turn into
liberty of a community
how was Roosevelt a highly visible president
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
what was Roosevelts relationship with the press like
good relationship , relaxed, friendly and direct
what did Roosevelt use in order to speak directly tl the public
radio broadcasts
what were his fireside chats for
used every day language to explain his policies.
voice authoritative but friendly and reassuring
what percentage of Americans listened to Roosevelts speeches
75%
it was broadcast in movie theatres shops and restaurants
what was the daily average letters that Roosevelt received
4000
what had Roosevelt realised about the president power after ww1
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
why did Roosevelt oppose total federal government control over the social insurance system in 1934
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
what was Roosevelt judiciary reform bill
Supreme Court justices should retire at 70 and their number could be increased to 15
(people worried as felt like dictatorship)
why did isolationism continue under Roosevelt
- 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
