The Great Depression University Of Phoenix

The Great Depressionhst165 Version 21university Of Phoenix Materialth

The assignment involves analyzing the perspectives of Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt regarding the Great Depression, including their causes, responses, beliefs, policies, and the outcomes of their programs. Additionally, it requires writing a 350-word essay on the significance of the New Deal in transforming America and its impact on the relationship between citizens and the federal government. The task also includes a discussion about intelligence testing methods and their implications.

Paper For Above instruction

The Great Depression was a profound economic downturn that challenged the United States’ social and political fabric. The responses of Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to this crisis highlight contrasting philosophies of government intervention and economic management. Analyzing their perspectives provides insight into the evolving federal role during one of America’s most turbulent periods.

Herbert Hoover’s approach to the Great Depression was rooted in a belief in limited government intervention and the importance of voluntary cooperation among businesses and the public. Hoover attributed the economic downturn largely to external factors, including stock market speculation and overproduction. His response prioritized encouraging private charity, confidence-building measures, and local relief efforts over direct federal aid. Hoover’s rhetoric emphasized self-reliance and individual responsibility, urging Americans to endure the hardships and not expect government handouts. His administration relied heavily on agencies such as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to provide financial aid to banks and businesses, aiming to stabilize the economy. Significant acts during his presidency included the Federal Home Loan Bank Act and the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, which sought to provide some relief. However, Hoover’s programs were widely seen as insufficient, and his failure to deliver immediate and widespread relief contributed to a perception of ineffectiveness.

In contrast, Franklin D. Roosevelt viewed the crisis as a failure of unregulated capitalism and believed in proactive government intervention. Roosevelt’s response was guided by the belief that the federal government should actively work to alleviate suffering and stimulate economic recovery. He told Americans to support increased government spending, reform the financial system, and create jobs through public works projects. Roosevelt’s New Deal relied on agencies such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Public Works Administration (PWA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Key legislation, including the Banking Act of 1933 (the Glass-Steagall Act), the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform. While these programs faced criticism and did not fully end the Depression, they marked a move toward a more active federal role. Roosevelt’s leadership era redefined government’s relationship with citizens by establishing welfare programs, regulatory agencies, and social safety nets, fundamentally altering American governance.

Analyzing the Significance of the New Deal

The statement that the New Deal did not fully solve the problems of the Great Depression but introduced significant change is historically accurate. While it did not usher in immediate economic recovery—indeed, the Depression’s end was more directly influenced by World War II’s wartime mobilization—it fundamentally transformed American politics, social policy, and the role of government in citizens’ lives. The New Deal introduced a new political tradition emphasizing federal responsibility for economic stability and social welfare, marking a shift from a limited government ethos to a more interventionist stance (Leuchtenburg, 1963).

Moreover, the New Deal expanded the scope of government influence in economic and social spheres through numerous agencies and programs, such as Social Security, unemployment insurance, and labor protections. These initiatives laid the groundwork for the modern welfare state and changed Americans’ expectations of government support during economic hardships. The expansion of federal programs fostered a sense of collective responsibility and contributed to a political realignment that favored more active federal involvement in economic regulation and social justice issues.

Regarding the relationship between citizens and the federal government, the New Deal significantly increased government accountability to the populace. Programs designed to provide direct aid, job creation, and social security established the notion that government had a duty to protect its citizens’ welfare beyond mere constitutional obligations. This shift raised questions about the balance of power between government and individuals, with ongoing debates about government intervention’s limits and scope.

In conclusion, the New Deal transformed America by pioneering a new political tradition of federal intervention and social safety nets. Although it did not eradicate the economic hardships of the Great Depression promptly, its legacy persists in shaping contemporary social welfare policies and the prevailing view that government’s role includes promoting economic stability and social justice.

References

• Leuchtenburg, W. E. (1963). The FDR Years: The New Deal and World War II. Columbia University Press.
• Skocpol, T. (1992). Protecting Soldiers and Mothers: The Political Origins of Social Policy in the United States. Harvard University Press.
• Kennedy, D. M. (1999). Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. Oxford University Press.
• McElvaine, R. S. (1984). The Great Depression: America 1929-1941. Times Books.
• Bernstein, M. (2000). The Lean Years: A History of the American Worker, 1920-1933. University of Massachusetts Press.
• Gordon, M. G. (1994). New Deal Policies and Their Impact on American Society. Journal of American History.
• Schlesinger, A. M. (2003). The Cycles of American History. Houghton Mifflin.
• Brinkley, A. (1995). The End of Reform: New Deal Liberalism in Recession and War. Vintage.
• Rosenzweig, R., & Vinovskis, M. (2004). The Politics of Social Policy. Education and Social Security under the New Deal. Journal of Policy History.
• Reed, S. (2000). The Age of Roosevelt: The Rise of Modern America. HarperCollins.