Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was an American statesman who served as President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. He led the country through the Great Depression and the Second World War and was the only president to be elected to more than two terms.

Early Life and Career

Roosevelt was born in 1882 in Hyde Park, New York, to a prosperous family. He was educated at Groton, at Harvard, and at Columbia Law School.

He entered politics as a state senator and served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson. He was the Democratic candidate for Vice President in 1920.

He contracted poliomyelitis in 1921 and lost the use of his legs. He continued in public life and was elected Governor of New York in 1928.

The New Deal

Roosevelt was elected President in 1932 at the depth of the Depression. He launched the New Deal, a programme of relief, recovery, and reform.

The programme included the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Works Progress Administration, and the Social Security Act. It established a system of social insurance and of federal responsibility for the economy.

He reformed the banking system and established the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also introduced the Tennessee Valley Authority and other regional development projects.

The Second World War

Roosevelt led the United States through the Second World War. He worked closely with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin and helped to shape the post-war order.

He introduced the Lend-Lease programme to supply Britain and the Soviet Union. He defined the Four Freedoms and worked for the creation of the United Nations.

He was re-elected three times, in 1936, in 1940, and in 1944. The Twenty-Second Amendment, limiting the president to two terms, was ratified after his death.

Death and Legacy

Roosevelt died in April 1945, a few weeks before the German surrender. He was succeeded by Harry Truman.

His legacy includes the expansion of the federal government, the establishment of social security, and the reshaping of the international order. He is regarded as one of the greatest of American presidents.

His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, was a leading figure in her own right. She served as a delegate to the United Nations and helped to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Criticism and Assessment

Roosevelt was accused of excessive federal power and of concentrating authority in the executive. The Supreme Court struck down several early New Deal measures.

He was also criticised for the internment of Japanese Americans during the war and for his response to the Holocaust. His legacy is assessed with reference to these controversial measures.

He is nevertheless regarded as the president who restored confidence during the Depression and who led the country in the war. His programmes shaped American politics for generations.

The Banking Crisis

Roosevelt took office in March 1933 at the height of the banking crisis. He declared a bank holiday and called Congress into special session.

The Emergency Banking Act provided for the inspection and reopening of sound banks. The measure restored confidence and stemmed the wave of failures.

He began his fireside chats, a series of radio addresses that explained his policies to the public. The chats became a model of political communication.

The First New Deal

The first phase of the New Deal concentrated on relief and recovery. The Civilian Conservation Corps employed young men in conservation projects.

The National Industrial Recovery Act established codes of fair competition and the Public Works Administration. The Tennessee Valley Authority developed a major river basin.

The Agricultural Adjustment Act sought to raise farm prices by reducing production. The measures were controversial and some were declared unconstitutional.

The Second New Deal

The second phase concentrated on social reform. The Social Security Act established a system of old-age pensions and of unemployment insurance.

The Wagner Act guaranteed the right of workers to organise and to bargain collectively. The Works Progress Administration employed millions of people on public projects.

The Revenue Act of 1935 increased taxes on large incomes and on inheritances. The measures were resisted by business and by the conservative coalition in Congress.

The Supreme Court and the Court-Packing Plan

The Supreme Court struck down several New Deal measures. Roosevelt proposed to enlarge the court and to appoint additional justices.

The plan was defeated in Congress and damaged his political standing. The court nevertheless began to uphold the legislation, and the episode marked a turning point in its history.

The conflict raised questions about the balance of power among the branches of government. It remains a subject of debate in constitutional history.

The War and the Post-War Order

Roosevelt worked to support Britain and the other allies before the American entry into the war. The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 provided supplies on generous terms.

After Pearl Harbor he directed the war effort and met with the allied leaders at Casablanca, Cairo, Tehran, and Yalta. He worked for the creation of the United Nations.

He died in April 1945 and was succeeded by Truman. His image and his legacy remain central to the history of the twentieth century.

See also

• New Deal
• Great Depression