On October 29, 1929, one of the worst economic downfalls in American history began. It became known as The Great Depression. The stock market failed and the economy tanked. At this time, President Hoover was in office. During his presidency, major food shortages and severe unemployment occurred, causing United States citizens to lose all hope. But when Franklin D. Roosevelt stepped into office, offering the New Deal programs and tables began to turn. In his first Inaugural address, he stated, “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.” (Doc 2) Although, WWII basically recovered America from the Great Depression, it was FDR’s New Deal and Second New Deal programs that stopped America’s economic issues, providing …show more content…
Unemployment rates were high and poverty was starting to become widespread. FDR spoke about putting people to work, by hiring them directly by the government itself, treating the task of work as our culture would treat War, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects that stimulated the economy and encouraged the use of natural resources. (Doc 2) FDR passed 2 New Deal Legislations: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); which employed youth in reforestation, road construction, and flood control projects; The Works Progress Administration(WPA) employed 8 million people on public works projects. (Doc 3) The WPA was very effective because it not only dealt with the issues of unemployment, but improved the deteriorating parts of the country. The CCC also functioned in the same way, providing millions of jobs for unemployed workers, while maintaining and exploring the …show more content…
FDR believed Americans must save the Constitution by changing the Supreme Court’s unlimited powers. He explained that since the rise of the modern movement for social and economic progress through legislation, the court has become more and more powerful. To change this, FDR proposed that whenever a Judge or Justice of any Federal Court has reached the age of seventy and does not avail himself of the opportunity to retire on a pension, a new judge shall be appointed. The plan had two major purposes. By bringing the judicial system younger blood, it would make the Federal Justice speedier and less costly. Secondly, to bring the issues of social economic to younger men who have had personal experience with economic issues. (Doc 6) In addition to FDR’s statements above, Frank Gannett backs up FDR’s claims by telling that the lower courts are slow and overburdened. (Doc 7) But the proposal to this issue, was negatively affected, as the proposal was a step towards absolutism and complete dictatorial