The Great Depression

FDR &

His Critics

At his inaugural address, Franklin Delano Roosevelt told the nation: “the only thing we

have to fear is fear itself.”

Roosevelt’s confidence

and enthusiasm seemed to rub off on

others.

Roosevelt gave the “forgotten

man” the sense that the nation’s

leaders understood what

he was going through & were responding as

best they could.

• Roosevelt did not have a logical plan about how the economy would be fixed. His approach was “to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit frankly and try another.”

• Some people were critical of FDR’s hit or miss technique.

• In 1939, the New Deal was six years old & had given relief to millions.

• America was still in the midst of the Depression.• Some people wanted even stronger government efforts.

In 1940, FDR won a third term as President (before 2 term limit).

Roosevelt was now focused on the two terrifying

military dictatorships: Germany & Japan

In 1941, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th,

the nation supported Roosevelt again.

• On the home front, war production and the draft quickly

put an end to unemployment in a way the New Deal never could.

• FDR had optimism as he led the nation to

victory in the most terrible war in history.