How Did Roosevelt Respond To The Great Depression?

The Great Depression was a dark time for America that had disastrous economic, political and social effects. The collapse of the financial market led to the continual downwards spiral of the Depression. American banks gave out loans to those investing in the stocks using speculation, with many hoping to sell their shares for more than they purchased it for, paying off the bank and making a profit. Prices however began to fall quickly as investors tried to sell their stocks, unable to sell with the increasing numbers of shares. Companies were not selling as many goods, company profits fell and people became less willing to buy. Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt saw the Great Depression from two different perspectives. Although millions …show more content…
Roosevelt was elected President in 1932. He campaigned on offers of a new approach to solve problems of the Depression known as the New Deal. Roosevelt was different to Hoover as he believed the Government should use their power to create a fairer society, he spoke of this openly with the population “Our greatest Primary task is to put people to work. This problem can be solved in part by the government creating jobs and treating the task as we would treat the emergency of war”. He promoted the ideals Relief, Recovery and Reform to help the unemployed, rebuild the economy and create a fairer and more just society. The aim of the New Deal was for the government to create Alphabet Agencies that would disburse money into providing jobs for the poor and unemployed. These led to action in helping industry and agriculture, resolving the banking crisis, more money spent on goods, an increased demand for these goods and increase in the production. In order for Roosevelt to be so successful he had to earn the trust of the US people. The population was used to being ignored and to suffer alone as Hoover left the economy to fix itself, which was ineffective. Many looked up to Roosevelt and his ideals as he had overcome polio with a fierce determination, the same determination he had entered the presidential responsibility with. Roosevelt helped both sides of the spectrum. Numerous Acts and Agencies were introduced to help economic and social matters, particularly the banks, agriculture and unemployed. He helped both employers and employees by introducing the National Recovery Administration to create a relationship between industries and the government, a relationship that had not been previously developed by