Franklin D. Roosevelt

Definition

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and transformative leaders in American history, known for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Roosevelt's New Deal programs, such as the Social Security Act and the establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission, significantly expanded the role of the federal government in the economy and social welfare.
2. The Four Freedoms speech, delivered in 1941, outlined Roosevelt's vision for a post-war world and helped lay the foundation for the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
3. Roosevelt's use of executive orders to bypass Congress and implement his agenda was a controversial but effective strategy, particularly during the early years of the New Deal.
4. Roosevelt's four terms in office, the longest in American history, were marked by a significant increase in the power and influence of the presidency, particularly in the areas of economic and foreign policy.
5. Roosevelt's leadership during World War II, including his decision to enter the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor and his collaboration with Allied leaders, was instrumental in the Allied victory and the shaping of the post-war global order.

Review Questions

• Explain how Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs contributed to the development of varieties of liberalism in the United States.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs, implemented in response to the Great Depression, significantly expanded the role of the federal government in the economy and social welfare. This marked a departure from the more limited, laissez-faire approach to government that had previously dominated American liberalism. The New Deal introduced a variety of economic and social programs, such as the Social Security Act and the establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that sought to provide a social safety net and regulate the financial sector. These initiatives represented a shift towards a more active and interventionist form of liberalism, which would have lasting impacts on the development of different strains of liberal thought and policy in the United States.
• Analyze how Franklin D. Roosevelt's use of executive orders shaped the power and influence of the presidency within the executive branch.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's extensive use of executive orders to bypass Congress and implement his agenda was a significant factor in the expansion of presidential power during his administration. By issuing directives that had the force of law, Roosevelt was able to enact policies and initiatives without the need for congressional approval. This allowed the president to act quickly and decisively, particularly during the early years of the New Deal, when speed was seen as crucial to addressing the challenges of the Great Depression. The widespread use of executive orders by Roosevelt set a precedent that would be followed by subsequent presidents, contributing to the gradual increase in the power and influence of the executive branch relative to the legislative branch in the American system of government.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of Franklin D. Roosevelt's leadership and policies on the role of the executive in presidential regimes.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's tenure as president had a profound and lasting impact on the role of the executive in presidential regimes. His four terms in office, the longest in American history, marked a significant increase in the power and influence of the presidency, particularly in the areas of economic and foreign policy. Roosevelt's use of executive orders to bypass Congress and implement his agenda, as well as his willingness to take bold, unilateral action, set a precedent that would be followed by subsequent presidents. This contributed to a gradual shift towards a more powerful and assertive executive branch, with the president playing a more central role in shaping the direction of the country. Additionally, Roosevelt's leadership during World War II, including his collaboration with Allied leaders and his decision to enter the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, further cemented the president's role as the primary architect of American foreign policy. The long-term legacy of Roosevelt's presidency has been the entrenchment of a more active and influential executive, with the president wielding significant authority and autonomy within the presidential regime.

Related terms

New Deal:

A series of economic programs and reforms implemented by the Roosevelt administration to address the Great Depression, including measures to provide relief, recovery, and reform.

Four Freedoms: A set of fundamental human rights that Roosevelt outlined in a 1941 speech, including freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Executive Order: A directive issued by the President of the United States that has the force of law, often used to enact policies or initiatives without congressional approval.