Franklin D Roosevelt Childhood And Education Essay

Franklin Roosevelt 's Childhood and Education:

Franklin Roosevelt grew up in a wealthy family and often traveled overseas with his parents. His privileged upbringing included meeting Grover Cleveland at the White House when he was five. He was cousins with Theodore Roosevelt. He grew up with private tutors before attending Groton (1896-1900). He attended Harvard (1900-04) where he was an average student. He then went to Columbia Law School (1904-07), passed the bar, and decided not to stay on to graduate.

Family Ties:

• Father: James Roosevelt - businessman and financier.

• Mother: Sara "Sallie" Delano - Strong-willed woman who did not wish her son to be in politics.

• Siblings: One half-brother - James.

• Wife: Eleanor Roosevelt - Niece to

Fourth Reelection - 1944: Roosevelt was quickly re-nominated to run for a fourth term. However, there was some question over his Vice President. FDR 's health was declining and the Democrats wanted someone they were comfortable with to be president. Harry S. Truman was eventually chosen. The Republicans chose Thomas Dewey to run. He used FDR 's declining health and campaigned against waste during the New Deal. Roosevelt won by a slim margin getting 53% of the popular vote and winning 432 electoral votes versus 99 for Dewey.

Events and Accomplishments of Franklin D. Roosevelt 's Presidency:

Roosevelt spent 12 years in office and had an enormous impact on America. He took office in the depths of the Great Depression. He immediately called Congress to special session and declared a four-day banking holiday. The first "Hundred Days" of Roosevelt 's term were marked by the passage of 15 major laws. Some of the important legislative facts of his "New Deal" included:

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - hired more than three million men to work on various projects.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - used the Tennessee River to provide electricity for the

Roosevelt realized with the fall of France and the Battle of Britain that America could not remain neutral. He created the Lend-Lease Act in 1941 to help Britain by delivering old destroyers in exchange for military bases abroad. He met with Winston Churchill to create the Atlantic Charrte vowing to defeat Nazi Germany. America did not enter the war until December 7, 1941 with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Important victories for the US and the allies included the Battle of Midway, the North African campaign, the capture of Sicily, the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific, and the D-Day invasion. With an inevitable Nazi defeat, Roosevelt met with Churchill and Joseph Stalin at Yalta where they promised concessions to Soviet Russia if the Soviets entered the war against Japan. This agreement would eventually set up the Cold War. FDR died on April 12, 1945 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Harry Truman took over as president.

Historical Significance:

Roosevelt 's terms as president were marked by bold moves to fight two of the largest threats to America and the world: the Great Depression and World War II. His aggressive and unprecedented New Deal programs left a lasting mark on the American landscape. The federal government grew stronger and became deeply involved in programs traditionally reserved for the states. Further, FDR 's leadership throughout World War II led to victory for the Allies even though Roosevelt died before