Franklin D. Roosevelt is a defining figure and, arguably, one of the most important presidents in United States history. He took over as America faced its most difficult hour and forever changed the role the federal government played in American society. His New Deal program revolutionized American politics and enjoyed considerable success even though it failed to fully heal the wounds left by the Great Depression. Under his leadership, the functions of the president expanded to encompass the legislative branch (policy-making) in addition to the traditional executive branch. The United States, isolated internationally, became a champion of freedom and a global trading superpower. The classic national policy of laissez-faire was replaced by a competent and active welfare state. His project not only impacted America in the 1930s and 1940s, but it also left a lasting legacy that was later expanded by figures like Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. FDR, with his New Deal program, defined the era he presided over. The New Deal had a significant effect on the American economy before World War II and for several decades afterward. In addition to its economic consequences, it also had major political and social consequences. A product of the Roosevelt era was the New Deal coalition, which kept Democrats in power for nearly half a century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First, we'll begin by examining the effectiveness of Roosevelt's policies in the short term. Upon taking office, he closed the banks and quickly introduced the Emergency Bank Relief Bill, which authorized federal money to prop up private banks that had failed in the wake of the Great Depression. From the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719, it is clear that this bill had an immediate and lasting effect, since we can see that the number of bank failures fell from 4,000,000 to less than 200 since the introduction of the bill. and has remained at these levels ever since. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) was created to limit competition while maintaining a balance between the rate of growth of prices and wages. Additionally, we have the introduction of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), a piece of legislation designed to help farmers hardest hit by the Depression. In order to increase agricultural prices, the government would subsidize farmers who agreed to limit their production. Again, from the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719, we could infer that this law has also produced a positive result, as we can see an upward trend in agricultural prices since the introduction of the law. the introduction of the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act as part of the Second New Deal. Billions of deficit dollars were spent on numerous construction projects to reduce the unemployment rate. He also created several agencies such as the Resettlement Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration, and the National Youth Administration, all of which were designed to help remote communities and young job seekers. The largest program funded by the law was the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed millions of Americans in small-scale construction projects such as the construction of public buildings, bridges, roads, parks, playgrounds and much more. We also have thecreation of the Public Works Administration (PWA), which invested several billion dollars in massive construction projects such as dams, airports, and railroads. From the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719, it appears that this law was successful in temporarily reducing unemployment. Additionally, we have the introduction of the groundbreaking Social Security Act which created a federal system to provide social protection to American citizens and its legacy continues to this day. It appears that the New Deal did indeed have a positive impact on the American economy, even if it did not completely resolve the crisis. According to the text, “it changed the American West more than any other region, as the construction of dams and other federally sponsored public works projects reshaped the region's economy and environment. The new federal activism also extended to Western populations. In recent decades, federal policy toward Native Americans, particularly those on western Indian reservations, has been disastrous. The Indian Reorganization Act was instrumental in ending the forced assimilation of Native peoples and restoring Indian lands to tribal ownership. It also granted federal recognition to tribal governments. The South was also affected by the New Deal. Through the Tennessee Valley Authority, the government fostered economic development, helped bring electricity to rural areas, restored fields depleted by overexploitation, and fought the scourge of malaria. » Perhaps because of the economic and social impact that the New Deal had on American society. , the most important and influential result of the New Deal was in the political sphere; this launched an era of big government and constant government meddling in domestic affairs. Franklin D. Roosevelt forged a coalition that included progressives from both sides of the political spectrum, farmers, blue and white collar workers, intellectuals, labor unions, white Southerners, and minority groups (African Americans, Western Europeans). East, Jews); the coalition was called “The New Deal Coalition” and it had a huge influence on policymaking in America. It set the tone for most administrations that followed. We can see that the New Deal became a "political Bible" for figures like Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, who used Roosevelt's plan as a cornerstone of their policymaking. In addition to this, the new agreement also served as an inspiration for many Republican presidents. President Eisenhower declared that "it is almost impossible to roll back the policies of the New Deal without harming many Americans." The New Deal coalition was the response to the Democratic Party's nearly fifty-year dominance. Just as Duedney's article states: "While it is clear that Truman, Kennedy and Johnson were heirs to this New Deal, Eisenhower and Nixon actually had more in common with their Democratic contemporaries and with FDR than 'with contemporary radical conservatives. . . In the contentious exchanges of American politics, it is easy to overlook the essential fact that, at least from Truman to Nixon, American politics was centrist and the center was the New Deal order, at home and abroad . mind: This is just a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssayIn his 1944 State of the Union address, President Roosevelt offered Americans a “second declaration of rights: the right to employment, health care, education, food. ,..”