Franklin D Roosevelt's New Deal - Why did the American people support Roosevelt in the 1932 election?

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Jennie Agg History Coursework

                                                    Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal

Question one, Why did the American people support Roosevelt in the 1932 election?

There were three main reasons why people supported Roosevelt; the failures of his opponent and predecessor, Herbert Hoover, his policies and his election campaign. The major failing of Herbert Hoover, which gave Roosevelt an advantage in the election, was that he didn’t appear to offer any help to the country in it’s state of economic crisis. Being a Republican he believed the government should stay out of people’s lives and that handouts would make Americans lazy and only dependant on more handouts. Roosevelt draws on this in his speeches, when in source A it states “Delay, deceit” it is referring to the delay of any action on Hoover’s part. Roosevelt also says that Hoover was deceitful and lied to the people of America when he told them that prosperity is just around the corner.

        This led Hoover to be seen in public opinion as a do-nothing president, many Americans wanted action. The fact that Franklin D Roosevelt was offering what was seen as radical action made hi policies very appealing. He promised a “New Deal”, intervening in people’s lives, increasing taxes to provide benefits. “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.” He called it a “crusade to restore America.”

        Roosevelt was a good public speaker and prior to the election he toured the USA giving speeches. It was these speeches such as source A that helped gain the people’s support. He involved himself in his speeches “I pledge myself” he gives the impression he is going to get involved unlike Hoover. He uses emotive language that appeals to the people “ to win this crusade to restore America.” In his speeches Roosevelt plays on the comparison between himself and Herbert Hoover’s do-nothing image. By incorporating this kind of thing into his speeches Roosevelt was sure to gain the people’s support.  

Question two, How are the judgements made by source B and C on the new deal differ?

Fundamentally the two sources differ as source B looks at the new deal and Franklin D Roosevelt’s government in a positive light whereas source C is very negative about it. More specifically they differ over several points. Firstly was Roosevelt’s government a dictatorship or not? Source B says it wasn’t; “The charge that Roosevelt has been a dictator is not true.” Source C contradicts this when it states that “The only result of this will be dictatorial government.” Similarly their opinions differ on the amount of power held by Roosevelt, source C says, “this gave him a power which he used ruthlessly” implying Roosevelt had too much power and abused it as well. However source B reflects that “Although the government has far greater responsibilities, it has no great power. All power is still in the hands of the people.”

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        Another difference in opinion was whether or not Roosevelt’s policy of government intervention actually helped people in America. Source C suggests that it didn’t do any good arguing that “ inflation has doubled prices and reduced the lower paid to poverty. More people are on government relief.” Source B reckons that “ the strengthening of the government and the expansion of it’s activities to help people” So source B clearly thinks that Roosevelt intervention methods did work whereas source C gives the impression that Roosevelt made things worse. The two sources also oppose each other over unemployment figures. Source B ...

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