From 1929 to 1939, the Great Depression wrecked havoc upon the economy both nationally and internationally. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s leadership as president of the United States and the New Deal Programs brought recovery to the nation up to a certain extent. The president’s predecessor, Herbert Hoover, layed down the foundation for what Roosevelt’s ideas would be based off of. Additionally, World War II served as an opportunity to increase demands for production and open jobs which was completed by everyone rather than tracing it back to only Roosevelt. Regardless, the 32nd president gave the American people hope and a sense of unity that serves as much greater in value in comparison to policies such as the New Deal Programs, not that the …show more content…
The program sketched the outlines of a corporate state; the government would have to be involved which went against the laissez-faire policy that America adopted prior to Hoover. For example, Hoover implemented public works projects with one being the building of the Hoover Dam. The construction of the dam created thousands of jobs to the unemployed and the federal government created an entire town so the workers and their families had a place to stay in Nevada, where the dam was being built. Despite this, Herbert Hoover established other policies that actually worsened the effects of the depression. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised tariffs on imported goods and initiated a trade war between the United States and Europe, poorly affecting the global economy as a result. The tariff was designed after the overproduction of agriculture to balance out supply and demand by encouraging Americans to buy nationally. Unfortunately it damaged foreign relations as no one internationally was able to trade for the stuff they wanted anymore contributing to debt. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the 1932 election, learned from Hoover’s mistakes, and reinforced what did work to keep …show more content…
The purpose behind his New Deal was not only to enforce Federal government’s involvement into the economy, but also to restore some measure of dignity and prosperity to many Americans. In his First Inaugural Address, saying “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he sought to reassure the public amid the anxieties of the Great Depression. Also, Roosevelt began addressing the public directly over the radio in fireside chats. These chats restored confidence and hope among the people by explaining in reassuring tones and plain-spoken language his New Deal policies and World War II. The confidence among the people united them together to make change happen and be patient until finally the economy was