First Hundred Days

Definition

Refers to the first hundred days of FDR's presidency where he passed numerous pieces of legislation aiming to alleviate problems caused by the Great Depression.

Analogy

Imagine you've just moved into a messy house and you have only 100 days to clean it up before your parents visit. That's what FDR faced with America - he had a short time frame to make significant changes.

Related terms

Emergency Banking Act: An act passed during FDR’s first hundred days in office; it stabilized banking industry and restored public faith in U.S banking system.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): One of FDR’s New Deal programs that provided jobs for young men during The Great Depression, mainly improving national parks and forests.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA): Another piece of legislation from FDR’s first hundred days which aimed at boosting agricultural prices by reducing surpluses.