Did Roosevelt’s upbringing, background and character make it easy for him to understand the concerns and fears of ordinary Americans? Explain your answer.

the community, and 'an obligation of the middle and upper classes to show concern for the dispossessed'. Roosevelt was not happy here, however. He did not excel in any particular subject, and as he joined two years after most of the other boys found it difficult to settle in. He was used to being idolised by his mother, and now he was no longer the centre of attention which he was during his early years spent in the 'secure and comfortable world of this almost old-fashioned American aristocracy'. Towards the end of his school years he became interested in current affairs, and turned to law. Through being a Wall Street Lawyer he met many 'ordinary' Americans, with whom he ha never socialised with before, and realised how much he wanted to put into practice his idea of reform, which he had believed in his entire life. He was meeting, for the first time, people not as wealthy, or as well off as him. Walking the streets of the poorer areas of New York City to interview witnesses prior to trial made him realise how much there was to be done. This desire to make a change drew him into politics. It was his family's principles of 'service to the community' and 'love thy neighbour' that helped him relate to the Americans not in the same league as him. He had a warm personality, worked on his instincts but still arrogant enough to tell people when he thought he was right. This open-ness endeared him to much of the American population, though most had never even met Roosevelt, still felt that he was there for them. (373 words) Q2. How far was Roosevelt responsible for his election victory in 1932? Explain your answer. Roosevelt won the election in 1932 because the American population liked him, and Roosevelt genuinely liked them back. He was nice to them. He genuinely wanted them to have a better way of life, and the public believed him. He was also nice to his fellow Democrat leaders, and spent many a Monday lunchtime meeting with them discussing tactics for getting legislation through the Republican-dominated legislature. When these tactics worked Roosevelt was able to take credit for it, whether it was his idea or not. In his second term in office as State Governor he had to combat the effects of the Depression and it was due to him that New York became the first State to vote public money for unemployment relief. He realsied that politics was about keeping in touch with the people. He possessed charm, he always spoke to the public, which gained their trust. As the Depression carried on, and grew worse, the Republicans, being in office at the time, were losing support, and fast. This paved the way for a Democrat leader, Roosevelt, to take the reins from Hoover and steer America into prosperity once again. He wanted America to prosper, and it was his views and his fellow Democrat leaders' views, combined with his compassion for his country that helped him win the election. The American public liked him. (196 words)