Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd elected president and was in office from 1933 to 1945 serving four terms. He was a very privileged child attending the finest schools. Studying at Harvard and Columbia Law School. After passing his bar exam, Franklin moved on to becoming Senate of New York for less than three years, until Woodrow Wilson elected him Assistant Secretary of Navy. After a case of polio almost crippling him he then took his rein as Governor of New York until three years later becoming president of the United States.
After seeing what the previous president, Hoover, did to America FDR was determined to change it. He believed in taking action when it comes to the economy, rather than following the "laissez faire" way of Hoover. FDR's plan was the called the "New Deal". He planned to have the government step in on issues rather then let the government sit back and watch the economy get worse. His belief was to take action and have the government help out it's citizens.
As soon as FDR was in office he started his plans immediately. In between March 8th and June 16th, known as the "First 100 Days", FDR had the government perform numerous amounts of effective plans. The Congress passed fifteen new bills. Within those 100 days FDR was most known for:
After seeing what the previous president, Hoover, did to America FDR was determined to change it. He believed in taking action when it comes to the economy, rather than following the "laissez faire" way of Hoover. FDR's plan was the called the "New Deal". He planned to have the government step in on issues rather then let the government sit back and watch the economy get worse. His belief was to take action and have the government help out it's citizens.
As soon as FDR was in office he started his plans immediately. In between March 8th and June 16th, known as the "First 100 Days", FDR had the government perform numerous amounts of effective plans. The Congress passed fifteen new bills. Within those 100 days FDR was most known for:
- The Bank Holiday: where FDR put all of the banks that were in crisis on a break; getting rid of any panic.
- Ending of the Gold Standard: FDR got rid of the gold standard where U.S. dollars needed to be backed up by gold reserves all helping avoid deflation.
- The Glass-Steagall Act: Banning banks to invest in any large investments, leaving no chance for the failing of banks .
- FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Commission): This backed up any deposit under $2500 helping citizens be able to depend on banks not failing.
- Federal Securities Act: This helped support the stock market from crashing.
- Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA): This helped the creation of surpluses and increased crop prices.
- Civilian Conservation Corps: This put over 250,000 men into work helping the unemployment rate.
- Tennessee Valley Authority: Created help for the interior of the South out of poverty.
- National Industrial Recovery Act: Tightening the relationship between business and government.
- Public Works Administration: Helped the construction of any buildings that were needed.
- Federal Emergency Relief Act: This helped with direct relief on any citizen affected by the depression.
FDR Quotes:
- “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
- “The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.”
- "It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."
- "Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle."
- "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little."
- "Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."
FDR's Inaugural Speech 1933
This video is the first Inaugural Speech given to America by Franklin D. Roosevelt.