What are the strengths and weaknesses of Source A as an interpretation of the role of Roosevelt in the New Deal?

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History Coursework -

Assignment 2: Model A2:

The United States 1919 - 1941

Q1) What are the strengths and weaknesses of Source A as an interpretation of

        the role of Roosevelt in the New Deal?

Source A mainly focuses on Roosevelts popularity. The first paragraph is not evidence at all; it is the authors view on what he believes Roosevelts goals and positive attributes were. A weakness of Source A is that it is too favourable towards Roosevelt. We can see that it is an american textbook, probably aimed as a school textbook. It is understandable that the author attempts to portray Roosevelt as an honest, caring and simple man, as it was and still is widely believed that Roosevelts actions benefitted America in the long term.

It is also very vague about details; it mentions Roosevelts fireside chats, and his unusual attention to the massive amount of mail send to the whitehouse, which I know was true through my own knowledge, but it is all written very generalised. Its lack of detail makes it seem more of a biography of Roosevelt than a textbook on America in the Twentieth Century. The historian did not write about his opposition; from my own knowledge i know that he was criticised by both right and left wing polititians.

As the textbook was published in 1989, it is safe to say that it is free from government censorship (over 50 years after the New Deal), and also accurate; as there are many new sources of information available to the historian than there were in earlier decades. My own knowledge also confirms this.

However, there are gaps in the Sources evidence such as the statement about Roosevelt caring about improving his own position. This was written in brackets, with no evidence backing it up. I know from my own knowledge that this statement is correct, but it is a weakness unless it is backed up by evidence.

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Overall, it is an interpretation that whilst accurate, it is not objective. The source is clearly very opinionated and in favour of Roosevelt's actions. Because it is from such a general text book it cannot go in much depth, however it does give the reader a good understanding of the influence of Roosevelt, and how important he was to many people.

Q2) Sources E and F are both sets of statistics.

       Which of these sources is the more useful to a historian studying the impact      

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