1933 - 1945 : Franklin D Roosevelt and the New Deal

Question 1

What Political Party did Roosevelt belong to?

Answer 1

Democrat

Question 2

What did FDR promise in his campaign?

Answer 2

‘Bold, persistent experimentation’.

Question 3

When did Roosevelt’s first Fireside Chat come?

Answer 3

March 12th, 1933.

Question 4

What did Roosevelt address in his first Fireside Chat?

Answer 4

Banks and ease the concerns of the banking crisis.

Question 5

What did FDR do in the early days to help with the issues within the banks?

Answer 5

He closed ALL banks nationwide for 4 days.

• Government officials ran checks on banks and only financially sound banks were able to reopen.

Question 6

How did the public connect with FDR, specifically through the Fireside Chats?

Answer 6

He spoke in simple and clear language so that everyone could understand what was happeneing.

He was also honest with the public - therefore, no one ever felt as though they weren’t aware of what was going on.

Question 7

What did FDR do in his First 100 Days with Congress?

Answer 7

• He called them into a special session which was to last 100 days.
• A considerable amount of emergency legislation was set up alongside ‘Alphabet Agencies’.

Question 8

Briefly explain what Alphabet Agencies are.

Answer 8

New Government bodies set up to tackle problems.

Question 9

List the 3 categories for the Alphabet Agency Measures.

Answer 9

1. Relief
2. Recovery
3. Reform

Question 10

Explain what is meant by ‘relief’.

Answer 10

Financial or practical help given to those in need.

Question 11

Explain what is meant by ‘recovery’.

Answer 11

A return to normalcy.

Question 12

Explain what is meant by ‘reform’.

Answer 12

Changing a system in order to improve.

Question 13

List 3 ways in which FDR changed the Presidency.

Answer 13

1. Involvement/Action
2. Relations with Congress
3. Relations with Media/Public

Question 14

Briefly explain how FDR changed the Presidency through his involvement and the action he took.

Answer 14

• Pushed through laws on banking, taxation and economic help for farm owners in difficulty and unemployment.
• Alphabet Agencies

Question 15

Briefly explain how FDR changed the Presidency through his relations with Congress.

Answer 15

• He created a significant White House staff to make increased federal involement in government work.
• He set up several departments to deal with administration.
• When Congress wasn’t helpful, he used presidential excecutive orders, designed to use only in emergencies to push laws through.

Question 16

Breifly explain hwo FDR changed the Presidency through his relations with the media and public.

Answer 16

• He understood the media and the need for thie support.
• He instituted a series of radio broadcasts and speeches.
• He held off the record meetings twice a week with selected reporters and he informed them what was going on.