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Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30th, 1882- April 12th, 1945) Democratic Party March 4th, 1933- April 12th, 1945 (4 terms- died one month into his fourth term) Vice Presidents: John N. Garner, Henry A. Wallace, and Harry S. Truman (in order)

One thing that not only impacted the American identity, but shaped it was unemployment during the depression. In 1933 at the depth of the depression, over 13 million Americans were unemployed, about 24.9% of the total population. Right after FDR was elected, about one quarter of Americans lacked a source of income compared to just 3.2% four years earlier. This was not only due to the recent stock market crash, but the failure of 4,004 banks in just the first two months of 1933. This led to over $3.6 billion dollars in deposits being lost. This spiraled and as the banks closed, businesses were unable to meet their payrolls and stay open. Additionally, businesses overproduced their products after the solidifying of the assembly line and the invention of mass production of parts. When consumers didn’t buy all their products, they downsized, which increased the amount of unemployed workers which in turn decreased the consumer force even more. It led to a vicious cycle which wasn’t helped by the collapse of a major bank in Britain. Overall, all these unemployed Americans set up camp in “Hoovervilles” often huddling around oil barrels filled with a fire. Citizens were forced to live in cardboard huts and beg for food and visit soup kitchens. Unemployment increased the level of homelessness, forcing the government to tolerate these “towns”. This impacts the American identity because it showed many people at the time what poverty was and at any time it could happen to them. It also caused people to loose faith in banks and the government for not being able to quickly solve the problem and get their jobs back. The high unemployment rates within the Great Depression are infamous for being Americas worst time in history by even modern day standards. Now, Americans live in constant fear of the economy hitting rock bottom like it previously did and question whether the Great Depression could ever reoccur. This extremely high rate impacted the presidency because with the creation of the New Deal by FDR designed to overcome the effects of the depression, there was extended government intervention into social and economic concerns. Now, the government instead of letting the people tough it out, were forced to help the common man. In the past, they only gave assistance to businesses and large groups. Now, ideas like welfare and the needs of the individual came into light. This impacted the American Identity because it forced the presidency to care more about the people and not take a standoffish approach. They realized that they could not help the rates of unemployment by letting it play out, they must put money into the economy to build it back up.

 Another event that impacted the American Identity was the invasion of the U.S.S.R. in 1941 by Adolf Hitler. The national depressions, primarily the one in Germany, paved the way for Hitler to come into power, changing not only Germany, but the world forever. It sparked WWII, paving the way for one of the most disastrous wars lasting from 1939-1945 spanning the later half of FDR’s presidency. WWII impacted America because it helped increase the workforce convincing more and more women into the workforce. This changed the American identity because it shows the transition of women from the traditional role of homemaker into the self- sufficient worker and what we know it as today. Additionally, the idea of conservation began, not out of environmental hazards, but out of necessity. Food, metal, and cloth were all conserved. This shows the American identity because of our commitment to patriotism and helping the country during war which is still present today. This invasion and later war impacted the presidency because reform legislation was often ignored and pushed aside for military spending, parts of the new deal including those that prevented job discrimination were slashed, the federal debt rose, there was an increase in the presidential power especially seen in foreign policy, the number of government jobs more than tripled, the government expanded it’s role in research and developmental projects, poverty became a growing issue, and business heads soon replaced those seeking reform in their government positions.Over WWII changed the American identity because it gave more power to the government (most notably during wartime), the reach of the government increased creating more jobs and programs, and the want for isolation among US civilians increased.

Franklin D. Roosevelt deserves an A- for his presidency. He was well liked by the public (hence being the only president elected four consecutive terms) and led us through two of the toughest times in our history, the Great Depression and World War II. Despite being under immense pressure after the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and unemployment hitting an all time high, he carried us through. He did however cause the Roosevelt Recession in his third term by stubbornly attempting to reduce the federal budget during a crisis. When dealing with WWII, he stuck to the isolationist policy until the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the public to demand it. His successful leadership through the war then led to a wartime economy which paved the way out of the depression.

FDR, the only president to be elected four times, had many goals throughout his presidency. His first inauguration address (1933) goals included proposing legislature that would help the stricken nation and doing so in a speedy way while maintaining constitutionality, asking congress for greater executive power in this time of need, and begging for a more ethical world of banking and credit as to lower corruption. Roosevelt did accomplish these goals because he did try for a more secure world of banking as shown in his creation of “the banking holiday” stating that all banks had to be closed in order to be reviewed by inspectors. This also helped the stricken nation because it increased the peoples’ trust in the banks, allowing them to be viable and not close. Additionally, he created the New Deal which aimed at helping the economy by first proposing relief and then reform. The second inauguration address (1937) was essentially very similar but pinpoints that we, as Americans, must help the common individual receive a job, education, and income. He also touches upon attempting to rid the economy of corruption within not only the governments, but the businesses and limiting public expenditures. He was relatively successful because he did manage to cut back on the government’s budget by scaling back on several New Deal programs however, this also but workers and farmers out of business forcing the unemployment rate up. This period known as the “Roosevelt Recession” partially hindered his goal of providing relief for burdened Americans. However, lasting effects from the New Deal still helped Americans as more and more searched for government relief. Also, he helped limit corruption after the rise of the corporate state, lowering the big business’ monopoly on the government. In his third inaugural address (1941), he mentions the need to protect themselves from outside forces (presumably the opposing forces during WWII), maintain democracy, get out of the lingering depression, lift people from poverty and remove those from undeserving wealth, and continue to fuel the “spirit of America”. He attempted to do this by recognizing the Soviet Union thinking it would open up trade for America, in turn rid the US of the lingering depression, however he scheme ultimately failed. He did succeed however in gaining American support for the war despite our isolationist tendencies, allowing us to better protect ourselves from outside threats. Also, we were finally able to increase the job market with the wartime economy and the now booming market. Overall, he accomplished a majority of his goals within that term. Lastly, in his fourth and final address was quite brief but determined we must continued supporting the allies in the war effort, achieve peace, and help other nations in order to prosper as a country. Sadly, his success in accomplishing these goals cannot be determined because he died approximately a month after taking the oath. Mostly, he attempted to accomplish all his goals and remained consistent on his ideals and promises making him an exemplary president.

 During FDR’s full three terms, congress surprisingly supported most of his actions although some expanded the power of the presidency. During his first term, in the House of Representatives there were 313 democrats and 117 republicans in the 73th session and 322 democrats and 103 republicans in the 74th session. Meanwhile, in the Senate there were 59 democrats and 35 republicans in the 73rd session and 69 democrats and 25 republicans in the 74th session. In both the house and senate, FDR maintained the majority by a widespread margin. This allowed for congress to pass the New Deal allowing for relief, recovery, and reform which later the democrats were able to expand and improve on with the backing of Roosevelt. This series of programs were widely support by congress not only because of their good relationship with FDR, but because of the necessity of them during the depression. During his second term, in the House there were 334 democrats and 88 republicans in the 75th session and 262 democrats and 169 republicans in the 76th session. In the senate there was 76 democrats and 16 republicans in the 75th session and 69 democrats and 23 republicans in the 76th session. Like his first term, he controlled the democrat majority once again allowing him to pass legislation with ease. An example was the passage of the Supreme Court Retirement Act. Although it was met with much controversy and Roosevelt was accused of attempting to pack the court to support his new deal policies, congress still passed it. This showed that even some thought the bill was borderline corruption, congress still backed their faithful leader, Roosevelt. In his third term, there were 267 democrats and 162 republicans in the 77th session and 222 democrats and 209 republicans in the 78th session. In the senate, there were 66 democrats and 28 republicans in the 77th session and 57 democrats and 28 republicans in the 78th session. As you can see, he still has the majority throughout the entire term but his hold is beginning to slip. This slipping power is shown in 1944 when Roosevelt requested that congress enact legislation taxing all unreasonable profits. Congress created a revenue bill which FDR did not see fit and seemingly vetoed it. However, congress overrode his veto and passed it anyways. This shows that toward the end of his tenure as president, congress no longer felt the immediate danger of the depression and was no longer as desperate to enact economic legislature. It also showed Roosevelt's actual power on the Democrats was lessening. Overall, he had a reasonable relationship with congress during the Great Depression for they allowed him an extension of power to attempt to control the worsening crisis. As the effects of the depression began going away, they no longer passed domestic measures as willingly. However, they still supported him wholeheartedly on foreign measures especially after Pearl Harbor and FDR’s decision to declare war.

 During FDR’s just over 12 years in the White House, despite being plagued with the task of leading the country out of the Great Depression and WWII, he managed to have more positive than negatives. One of his positive decisions included the founding of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Created in 1933, it was designed to help lower the unemployment rate through giving Americans jobs instead of doling out money. Not only did it put over 2.5 million unskilled men into a job, it forced them to return a large portion of their paycheck to their family which in turn would go back into helping the impoverished. Additionally, the jobs he had these men work on have had a lasting effect even into our modern day. With the help of the CCC, over 3 billion trees were planted helping the Dust-bowl region and conservation efforts throughout the nation. Also, it improved the status of the participating males by not only creating a healthier male, but a more responsible and motivated individual who was more likely to get hired back into the economy at a later date. Lastly, they helped put out forest fires, develop flood control, improve health of the wildlife, improve standing structures and help control erosion. This clearly was the most positive action because it not only created jobs in a time of need, but helped promote the idea of conservation even in the toughest times like The Great Depression. One of FDR’s few mistakes was his choice to cut back on new deal programs. By the spring of 1937, unemployment was still high but falling consistently and it appeared that the US was almost out of the depression. It was then that FDR, with much convincing from his financial advisers, decided to cut back on programs like the WPA and the PWA. Primarily because of this, the United Sates entered a recession lasting approximately 13 months as unemployment rose almost 5% higher. FDR refused to listen to the very popular ideals of Keynesian economics stating that during a time of economic downturn; sometimes you must continue to have a deficit within your budget in order to carry your region out of it successfully. Instead, Roosevelt cut programs which were the very cause of the rise in employment. This was a bad decision on his part because it not only showed his ability to bend to the will of his advisers, but his stubbornness in accepting key ideals at the time and implementing them. He should have continued the funding until America was completely out of the depression. Nevertheless, FDR definitely made more positive decisions than negative and it’s clear why he is one of the most well liked presidents.

 FDR made a lasting impact on the role of the president and our nation as a whole. One of his most lasting decisions however was his choice to repeal the 18th amendment, prohibition. It was formerly repealed by the passing of the 21st amendment on December 5th, 1933 lasting only 24 years. When it was first created, it was believed that it would lessen social problems like crimes, drunkenness, and poverty and even possibly eliminate them. However, from the start it became hard to control as money was being put in to enforce it, yet corruption and bootlegging still occurred. It became clear to Roosevelt that this was unable to be effectively enforced and could not be done so due to the widespread opposition. He finally allowed for the sale of liquor with a low alcoholic content but ultimately left the final decision up to the states. At the time, it not only eliminated the current funding to enforce prohibition allowing more money to be put into the depressed economy, but it paved the way for more industry and more needed jobs to be added to the failing economy. It’s impact on our generation is widespread. Today, the alcohol industry makes over $20 billion in revenue and supplies countless jobs to working class Americans. Many view it as a right, not a privilege and in today's world, could never be enforced without wasting billions of dollars. By repealing it, it gave adults within the US to drink and in today's culture remains a prominent part of the adult life. It not only supplies jobs and industries, but perseveres throughout the decades as a way of life for some (although not preferable for most).

The country was better at the end of FDR’s 12 years in office than at the end. Not only did he lead us from our very lowest point in the dreaded year 1933, he was able to protect and maintain the prosperity of our country in WWII. The fact that he dealt and conquered so many American issues is baffling to the common man. From his New Deal legislation to his declaration of war against Japan after Pearl Harbor, it can now be understood why he is forever preserved in our nations history and to have been the only president to serve four consecutive terms. If he were to have lived out his last term, it is to be implied that he would have carried our nation through with the same accomplished leadership. It is to have said that many presidents were simply the wrong man at the wrong time, but clearly, FDR was the perfect leader that America could rally around in order to carry us out of the depression and guide us through WWII.

Works Cited "1933: Unemployment Climbs, Businesses and Banks Close." //New Deal Network//. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. .

"The Great Depression." //Conservative Blogs, Websites and News Media//. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://www.brucekelly.com/library/great-depression.html>.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Repeal of Prohibition." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeal_of_Prohibition>.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Schultz, Stanley. "H102 Lecture 21: World War II: The Home Front." //American History 102: Oldest American History Site on the Internet -- Established in 1996 --//. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture21.html>.