Steph+S.+-+FDR+-+SP10

Franklin Delano Roosevelt  January 30, 1882 Hyde Park, New York  April 12, 1945 Warm Springs, Georgia (4 terms) March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 John N. Garner (1933–1941) Henry A. Wallace (1941–1945) Harry S. Truman (1945)   “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Perhaps the most distinguishable phrases in American history, this quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his first inauguration address shows the hope he instilled in the American people. At a time when the American economy, politics, and lifestyle were falling apart, FDR proved he was just what the country needed. Not only did he lessen the Great Depression, but he led the United States through World War II. Roosevelt deserves an A for his presidency for his domestic and foreign achievements.  Roosevelt came into the presidency with a big task ahead of him: curing the Great Depression. He went about this through the New Deal, which aimed at three R’s, relief, recovery, and reform. About 25% of the population was unemployed; this aspect fell under relief. Recovery was designed to boost the economy back to normal, and reform meant the long term fixes of what was wrong, especially in the financial and banking systems. The New Deal was not entirely successful, as unemployment still remained at 15% and farm surpluses raised even higher. By 1938, it had run out of steam, and while some object to its effectiveness, others claim it relieved the worst of it and prevented more troubles. In the end, his goal of erasing the Great Depression didn’t come until World War II. Another objective was to swing isolationist opinion from neutrality, saying that America should be the “Arsenal for Democracy” during one of his fireside chats. Unlike the rest of the country, FDR opposed isolationism, and only signed the Neutrality Acts because of overwhelming public support. He didn’t like how it did not distinguish the aggressors from the innocent. In his “Quarantine Speech”, given in 1937, he hoped to end American neutrality by enforcing economic embargos against aggressor countries. This had the opposite effect, increasing isolationist and enemies of involvement protests. By passing the Destroyer Deal, and then the Lend-Lease Law, FDR was able to accomplish his goal of aiding the Allies.   Starting out, there was no doubt that FDR and Congress had a good relationship. In a span of 100 days (Hundred Day Congress), a number of bills were easily passed, all directed toward immediate relief. These include the Emergency Banking Act, declaring the bank holiday; Glass-Steagall Act, insuring individual deposits up to $5,000; Federal Emergency Relief Act, granting money to states; and the National Industrial Recovery Act, creating the National Recovery Administration and Public Works Administration. Some laws Congress passed even gave legislative power to the president. After the 1934 congressional elections, FDR was given large majorities in both houses, prompting the Second New Deal. Laws passed include the Works Progress Administration, employing millions to carry out public works projects; Social Security Act, providing unemployment insurance and aid for the elderly; and the Wagner Act, allowing labor to self-organize and bargain collectively through their own representatives. However, in 1938, congressional elections saw a decrease in pro-New Deal members, and Republicans joined with the conservative southern Democrats, ending his ability to get domestic laws passed. In later years it seems his relationship with Congress worsens, as they not only denied his request to pack the Supreme Court, but also bound foreign policy by passing neutrality legislation. However, in 1940, he convinced Congress to pass the first peacetime draft in American history. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Not only did Roosevelt have to handle the Great Depression, but he was also faced with World War II. Guiding America through one of the world’s worst wars to date is his most positive achievement. In 1939 he started to increase military spending and gave his fireside chat that America should be the “Arsenal of Democracy”, as well as his “Four Freedoms” speech in 1941, convincing the country that they should be a protector of basic rights. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR makes the important decision to fight the war in Europe first, while the public’s opinion was to enact revenge on Japan. Militarily, he was mostly a strong leader. After wasting two years fighting in Italy, the Big Three met at Teheran to plan broad attacks on Germany and decide on the second front; Normandy ended up as the invasion point. Paris was liberated and while Allied troops tightened around Germany and moved nearer to Berlin, FDR died and didn’t see the end of the war. He also looked to shape the post-war world. The Atlantic Charter, in 1941, was developed at the Atlantic Conference by Roosevelt and Churchill, and comprised of eight points. Most notable among them were self-determination, disarmament, and freedom of the seas. The Yalta conference occurred to discuss postwar organization, as well as the reestablishment of the nations affected. Known for the promises that Stalin later broke, the most positive thing that came out of it were the plans for the United Nations. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> The most negative aspect of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency was the treatment of minorities. First off, New Deal measures largely benefited whites. African Americans were denied a large part of the political and economic advantages it gave to whites, such as Social Security, and many were excluded from unions. Federal programs were administered through local communities, many of them biased. A second minority group that suffered was the European Jews. While Washington had long been informed of Hitler’s rampage against them, they prevented the Jews from immigrating to the United States. Finally, groups had to experience ill treatment during wartime. 600,000 Italian-Americans’ property was seized, and they were subject to travel restrictions. Fearing sabotage after Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps. They lost millions of dollars in property and earnings. Families were split up as they were forced to leave their homes; all the while their own sons were fighting in Europe. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Because FDR had twelve years in office, he had quite a long time to shape the nation as we know it today. He brought America from the brink of disaster during the Great Depression, and laid the basis for future stability and prosperity. The role of government was redefined: they took responsibility for the economy, and government programs expanded. The misery that the Great Depression brought could have revolutionized America, and communism or socialism could’ve occurred, but FDR saved prevented this from happening. New Deal legislation is still visible today, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, establishing minimum wage; Social Security Act, taxing workers and providing the elderly with monthly payments; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, guaranteeing checking and savings accounts in member banks; Securities and Exchange Commission, protecting investors and providing them with legit information; and the National Labor Relations Act, giving unions the right to organize and bargain collectively. Alphabet agencies, such as the Civil Works Administration (CWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), all created public facilities that are still around today, such as highways, schools, and parks. The development of nuclear weapons was sanctioned by FDR, and this has consequences ranging from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to the Cold War. The United Nations was created at the Yalta conference, and today 192 nations are members. Finally, the 22nd Amendment passed Congress in 1947, limiting the number of terms for a president to two, after fears of too long a presidency becoming dictatorial. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> All in all, when it comes to FDR’s presidency, there are more positive consequences than negative. Faced with both the Great Depression and World War II, FDR made decisions that benefited Americans and shaped their world for the better. Even today, we can see his impact, whether it’s in public facilities or social aspects. Franklin Delano Roosevelt deserves an A for his presidency because he guided America through rough patches and to a more stable future. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"American President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Foreign Affairs." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/fdroosevelt/essays/biography/5>. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"Biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt." //Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum//. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/education/resources/bio_fdr.html>. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"FDR: How He Changed America--and Still Affects Your Life Today: No President Has Had as Great an Impact on Everyday Rife in America Today as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Who Took Office 75 Years Ago This Spring. - Free Online Library." //News, Magazines, Newspapers, Journals, Reference Articles and Classic Books - Free Online Library//. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FDR:+how+he+changed+America--and+still+affects+your+life+today:+no...-a0173514041>. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"Franklin D. Roosevelt." //The White House//. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/franklindroosevelt>. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
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