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The Utilization Of Federalism In America During The Great Depression

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Federalism, the division of power in government, is an ideology that is implemented in countless ways. Typically, the central government holds significantly more power than the subordinating branches. In one country, America. Throughout its existence, Federalism has generally been viewed as a positive ideology. Specifically, because it prevents a singular ruler or group from possessing all of the power; however, its efficacy during times of crisis and in the face of deep societal divisions is a subject of ongoing debate. Historically, Federalism in America has faced tests during times of crisis. Crises range from economic downturns to wars and pandemics. These challenges often strain the delicate balance of power between federal and state governments. …show more content…

He said, “For this reason that the convention which passed the ordinance of government laid its foundation on this basis, that the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments should be separate and distinct so that no person should exercise the powers of more than one of them at the same time.” The utilization of Federalism in America was to prevent crises from happening. The founding fathers did not anticipate the extreme internal crises that America would face in the years to come. One of the most extensive tests of Federalism was the Great Depression. The Great Depression was the most prolonged economic downturn the United States had ever seen. It lasted about a decade, and it posed the question of what the federal government's duty is regarding everyday people. When the Depression first began, President Hoover was in office. "Hoover believed strongly in the ethos of American individualism: that hard work brought its rewards." So in 1929, when the stock market crashed, he believed that it was the Federal government's duty to provide aid for those …show more content…

The New Deal worked and gave citizens the relief they were so desperately looking for. But to help people, FDR had to expand the powers of the executive and federal branches. Which, according to the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, is unconstitutional. In the Tenth Amendment it clearly states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Technically, Hoover was doing precisely what he was supposed to, but if FDR had not expanded the executive branch's powers, the Great Depression would have lasted for many more years. The original division of the powers between states and the central government was proven ineffective during the Great Depression; this situation was not an outlier. There are many more instances in American history where the American Federalism system failed. In the twenty-first century, Federalism in the United States is more controversial than ever, because it lies at the center of every other national debate. Through COVID and changes in national legislature, our nation has never been more

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