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Franklin Deleno Roosevelt

Born: January 30, 1882 Died: April 12, 1945

Political Party: Democratic Term 1: 1933-1937 Vice PResident: John Nance Garner Term 2: 1937- 1941 Vice President: John Nace Garner Term 3: 1941-1945 Vice President: Henry Agard Wallace Term 4: 1945 Vice President: Harry S. Truman

Franklin Delano Roosevelt came into presidency during the worst time of America's economic status. However, through his great attributions to the stabilizing of the country during the Great Depression, he helped the country stay on its feet and eventually walk as he led the nation through WWII. For Roosevelt's great accomplishments I give him an A.

When Roosevelt was elected into office he promised a "New Deal for America" and a New Deal he gave them. His programs for America were set out to stabilize the country economically after its downfall in the stock market and banks. He issued plans such as the Emergency Banking Act (helped open banks), the National Recovery Administration (created fair competition for businesses), and the Public Works Administration (created projects that employed thousands). With the help of these programs, Americans were able to work and get money in their pockets and help the overall status of the country.

Roosevelt's relationship with Congress was an excellent one, during all of his 4 terms as president due to the highly Democratic majority in both houses. With the help of Congress Roosevelt was able to pass his New Deal programs without interference and help the nation back on its feet. Congress also support his acts when it came to the war effort, or the acts leading up to it with the proposal of increasing military funding that would cost the nation $1 billion to upgrade the readiness of the nation's armies and navies.

The best action done by President Roosevelt was the introduction of the Neutrality Act in 1935. Also during this time, the Germans and the communist were taking over much of Europe, but Roosevelt saw it important for the nation to stay out of the mess in the European country and focus on its own problems at home. By staying out of the war for as long as Roosevelt could keep it, the nation was able to focus on enforcing the programs made by the New Deal without any war distractions. The world may have needed American help to fight the Nazi's but from America's stand point, it wasn't ready to go into another costly war that would led to debt, like in WWI.

There are very little things of the Roosevelt's administration that could be condemned as negative, for most of his actions were needed to help the status of the nation. The worst thing of his administration was his effort to stuff the Supreme Court with liberal justices that primarily supported the New Deal programs. It was an excellent move for Roosevelt to ensure that his programs would continue to succeed, but it offset the checks and balances in the court. This action also lost Roosevelt many strong allies within the government which is the main reason why it wasn't a good move for Roosevelt's popularity.

The action done during by the Roosevelt's administration that affected the nation later to come was the involvement of the U.S. in WWII. By fighting the war against communism in WWII it guided the nation into decades of "communism containment" in the Cold War. This first step of defending democracy in the world pushed the nation to help the rest of the world, by defending other countries from the invasion of communism. The fighting against communism in countries such as Vietnam and Korea led to drafts of thousands of young men and the eventual death toll that comes with war. The first step in fighting in WWII lead the nation into a long hike up a steep slope that seemed to never end.

The country was way better off after Roosevelt sadly ended his 4th term due to a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. He led the country out of the Great Depression with his New Deal programs and into the future of great prosperity by creating jobs with the war effort. All of his actions made during his presidency were profitable for the nation at the time they were made, and the success that they created is the reason for why he deserves an A.

Bibilography:

Smith, Carter. __Presidents, All You Need To Know__. New York: Hylas Publishing, 2005.