Page 331 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

1632 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear
itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts
to convert retreat into advance. • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)

were soundly defeated, but Roosevelt never lost sight of duced unemployment insurance and a social security pro-
the ideals behind the League. gram that guaranteed income for retired Americans. It
In 1921, Roosevelt contracted poliomyelitis and per- encouraged the growth of industrial unionism and
manently lost the use of his legs.Although he could have national legislation to define maximum hours and mini-
retired to the family’s Hyde Park, New York, estate, he mum wages.
refused to give up his aspirations for public office. Sup- Not everyone supported his programs. Emergency
ported by Eleanor and others, he made his return to pol- expenditures for relief poured billions into the economy,
itics at the 1924 Democratic National Convention with leading to record federal deficits even though he had
a well-received speech called the “Happy Warrior” and promised a balanced budget. If Congress or the courts
won the New York governorship in 1928 by a narrow balked at his programs, he used his executive powers to
margin. His governorship drew on the progressive tradi- enact them. Some accused him of introducing a socialist
tion of his cousin. Its accomplishments included the agenda or of undermining free-market capitalism. He
development of public power, civil-service reform, and deflected the criticism well enough to win a record-
social-welfare measures such as relief for the unemployed. breaking four terms.
Reelected by an overwhelming margin in the 1930 guber- In the 1930s, economic recovery took precedent over
natorial election, Roosevelt soon emerged as a viable foreign policy. Nevertheless, the president sought to
opponent to run against the politically vulnerable Her- improve relations with Latin America through his Good
bert Hoover in 1932. By capturing both the Southern Neighbor Policy. He had hoped to keep the United
and the progressive party elements of the Democratic States out of World War II, which began in Europe in Sep-
Party, Roosevelt won the party’s presidential nomination tember of 1939, but when the New Deal began winding
and pledged to give the American people a “New Deal.” down, he turned his attention to foreign affairs. Adolf
In July 1932, Roosevelt’s Brain Trust, a group of advi- Hitler’s stunning victories in Western Europe prompted
sors recruited from New York’s Columbia University, Roosevelt’s decision to seek a third term in 1940. Grad-
assembled to examine the causes and remedies of the ually he moved the United States towards a war footing
Great Depression. Free from the pressures of a political through various programs to arm Britain and the
campaign, they began planning new government pro- Soviet Union. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on
grams to help ease the economic burden in the face of 7 December 1941 and Germany’s declaration of war the
economic collapse. Although he provided no specifics next day ended American neutrality.
about the New Deal, Roosevelt did discuss conservation, During World War II, Roosevelt and British prime
relief, social insurance, and cheaper electricity. Given a minister Winston Churchill personally determined Allied
choice between the grim, dour Hoover and an exuberant, military and naval strategy in the West. To prevent a
confident Roosevelt, Democratic voters gave Roosevelt repeat of the problems after World War I, Roosevelt
an overwhelming victory in November. insisted on an unconditional surrender. He relied a great
Roosevelt’s New Deal program consistently made deal on the powers of personal persuasion, believing that
agricultural recovery a top priority.The Tennessee Valley he could control Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and foster
Authority, which brought cheap electrical power to mil- Soviet-U.S. cooperation through a newly created United
lions, focused on improving the living and working con- Nations. Instead, after the war Stalin imposed Soviet-style
ditions of folks living in that area. In addition, the New communist governments throughout Eastern Europe.The
Deal sought to rationalize the business system by tem- strain of wartime leadership sapped Roosevelt’s health.He
porarily ending bitter economic warfare through the died on 12 April 1945 of a cerebral hemorrhage.
National Industrial Recovery Act and its fair practice Both beloved and hated during his presidency,
codes. The New Deal also ended child labor and intro- Franklin Roosevelt transformed the nation by expanding