Franklin D Roosevelt Dbq

“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). Although Roosevelt was criticized for not doing enough to help the Jews in Europe, putting Japanese Americans in detention camps, having an affair, and many other deeds, he can still be argued as a great president, even one of the greatest in US history. Because of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ability to unite America through ending Prohibition, re-establishing faith in the banks and the government, and instilling a sense of patriotism during WWII, Roosevelt is one of the greatest US presidents of all time.

The theory behind Prohibition was that alcohol led to prostitution, which led to STDs. The 18th Amendment, the prohibition of alcohol, ratified

In 1932 Hoover lost the presidential election Roosevelt, and rightfully so because “Roosevelt’s vision and courage, through the duration of the New Deal”, programs and reforms during the 1930s, “led America out of the Depression” (Schweikart, 533). Although it was evident that the people of the United States needed help improving their lives, particularly financially, Hoover decided it was best to let it solve itself, when in reality this just created more problems. Roosevelt took a more hands-on approach and got personally involved with the rebuilding of America. However, while Hoover was president “the economic collapse deepended; people assumed [Hoover] did not care for their plight” (Schweikart, 549). They believed this because, to them, it seemed as though Hoover did not care about their wellbeing and prosperity. This all changed when Roosevelt was elected, particularly due to his Fireside Chats. He was able to “successfully used radio… [allowing] [him] to connect with large numbers of Americans… [and] [he] came across as an ordinary American” (Schweikart, 556). Roosevelt would talk to Americans through the radio about his policies and the government and how

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US took heavy losses, including effects on politics and the media. In Roosevelt’s “Day In Infamy” speech he states that it also caused “severe damage to American naval and military forces… [and] many American lives [were] lost…; [he] [asserted] that [they] [would] not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but [would] make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger [them] again” (“Day in Infamy” speech). Roosevelt’s compelling words inspired many to fight back against the Japanese. He believed that the attack was unprovoked and unnecessary, therefore making it seem even more absurd not to stand up for themselves. Roosevelt went on to compel Americans to fight back and not lose faith, for “ with confidence in [their] armed forces -- with the unbounded determination of [their] people -- [they] [would] gain the inevitable triumph” (“Day of Infamy” speech). He instilled the belief that the US would prevail over Japan. That day, he showed his strength and that of the US by standing up and giving his speech, despite the fact that he was stricken with polio, a disease that causes muscle wasting and paralysis. He spent the majority of is time in a wheelchair, but not for this speech. He showed that no matter how defeated and impaired he was, he was not going to let it