Why Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a Great Man Essay Example for Free

Why Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a Great Man Essay â€Å"†¦History is created by people and the role of the individual cannot be denied, even though it needs to be seen in a historical context. While there are limits to the role played by individuals, might the part they play in critical circumstances be decisive in the chain of causality? Pertaining to this ‘Great Man Theory’ it can be said that Franklin Delano Roosevelt upheld his victorious and highly regarded government through means of social, economic and political reforms, as well as ambitious personal and strategic decisions that have successfully remained influential to American society today and maintained his image as a prominent historic leader. Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd President of America from 1933 – 1945, eminent historian Sean J Savage articulated that Roosevelt remained a central figure in world events during the 20th Century, leading the United States through a time of world wide economic depression and war. In his first hundred days in office, which began March 4, 1933, Roosevelt spearheaded major legislation and issued a profusion of executive orders that instituted the New Deal; a variety of programs designed to induce relief like government jobs for the unemployed, recovery through economic growth and reform through regulation of Wall Street and major banks as stated by Professor John Simkin. Following the example of his fifth cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he greatly admired, Franklin D. Roosevelt entered public service through politics, but as a Democrat. The White House Presidential website provides a patriotic American insight based on primary sources that when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt directed organization of the Nations manpower and resources for global war, feeling that the future peace of America relied upon relations between itself and Russia. Roosevelt devoted much thought to the planning of a United Nations, in which, he hoped, international difficulties could be settled. As the war drew to a close, Roosevelts health deteriorated, and on April 12, 1945, while at Warm Springs, Georgia, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Franklin Roosevelt is named as one of the most transcendent American Presidents in history due to his influence over the Democratic Party and the regimes it implemented. Roosevelt fought to change the Democratic Party and make it a united coalition through which America would thrive. The Democratic Party put together a formidable coalition whose main components were lower-income groups in the great cities; African-Americans, union members, and ethnic and religious minorities, many from recent immigrant groups, this coalition aimed to improve and bring American lives to great new consummate levels (Tennen, 2012). As Susan Dunn emphasizes in Roosevelts Purge; FDR was motivated not merely by personal pique and short-term legislative goals but by a vision of a refashioned party system, he worried that the Democratic Party would remain a chronically weak minority party unless it clearly distinguished itself as a liberal organization and improved its appeal among voters dissatisfied with republican policies. Peri E Arnold, American historian and college professor explains that in early 1937 Roosevelt surprised Congress with judicial reform and executive reorganization bills that he and his newly formed Democrats had assembled; by 1938 those bills, along with economic measures such as the New Deal, were treated indecisively by conservative Democrats. This Democratic Party and Roosevelt’s ideals helped ensure that effective relief efforts were introduced and would allow Roosevelt to help to play an integral part in WWII. Roosevelt’s involvement in the Great Depression and WWII was essential for these incidences to occur the way they did. The Great Depression in the United States began on October 29, 1929, a day known forever after as Black Tuesday, when the American stock market–which had been roaring steadily upward for almost a decade; crashed, plunging the country into its most severe economic downturn yet (University of Virginia, 2010). When Roosevelt was elected into presidency he promised that under his government he would act decisively to end the Depression. Once in office, FDR said yes to almost every plan put forward by advisors and congress said yes to almost ever program proposed b the President. Barbara Welke from the History Channel Website provides information on the programs Roosevelt initiated; one part of the whole program was to promote recovery, supply relief to the needy and furnish permanent reforms especially in banks and stock exchanges. WWII ended both the temporary New Deal programs and the Depression the Roosevelt government was attempting to cure but many facets of the New Deal have remained features of American life from the 1930’s until the present. Barbara Welke author and reporter stated that FDR spearheaded the successful wartime alliance between the Soviet Union, Britain and the US. And that he helped to lay the groundwork for the post-war peace organization that would become the United Nations. While many favor Roosevelt’s decision Republicans and several members of congress argue that he made some poor appointments such as never giving his quickly put together war administration real organization. Robert A Guisepi, an American correspondent believes that another way of understanding Roosevelt’s Depression fighting efforts is to analyze the New Deal Initiative. The Aim of the New Deal was essentially conservative and it sought to save capitalism and the fundamental institutions of American from the disaster of the Great Depression. The New Deal was a successful and positive economic and social advancement which Roosevelt played a pivotal role in initiating. Roosevelt made strenuous attempts to help those without work but as well as this also attempted to reduce the misery for those who were unable to work through funding. Deb Tennen, author of Society in FDR’S New Deal emphasizes the success of the temporary closure on all banks to halt the run on deposits; he formed a â€Å"Brain Trust† of economic advisors who designed the alphabet soup agencies. These agencies were created as part of the New Deal to combat the economic depression and prevent another stock market crash in the US and were established during Roosevelt’s first hundred days of office (Clifird Berryman Library of Congress 2007). Ronald Reigan 40th President of American and Republican Party leader stated upon reflection of FDR’s New Deal â€Å"With his alphabet soup of federal agencies, FDR in many ways set in motion the forces that later sought to create big government and bring a form of veiled socialism to America†¦.. He called for cutting federal spending by twenty-five percent, eliminating useless boards and commissions and returning to states and communities powers that had been wrongfully seized by the federal government†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By 1936 the economy showed signs of improvement. Gross national product was up 34 percent and unemployment had dropped from 25 percent to 14 percent (Berryman, 2007). Chris Trueman opposes this success stating that Roosevelt increased government spending, encouraged unbalanced budgets and attempted to advance America towards socialism. Chris Trueman; Author and historian enthusiast explains that those who criticize the New Deal claim that it never actually got rid of unemployment in America and that Roosevelts New Deal only had short term impact which lulled the unemployed into thinking that all their troubles were at an end. However The White House Presidential Website argues that, for many Americans in the 1930s, Roosevelt was the president who included in his policies the people who had felt excluded by politics once the Depression had taken its hold; now the excluded were the included. The New Deal Initiative was an economically and socially positive regime which would power the Democratic Party for the next thirty years. This regime along with other critical personal and strategic decisions, helped to confirm Franklin Roosevelt’s position as a favored and highly regarded President who continues to influence America today. Franklin Roosevelt and his administration ensured he maintained his influential status as one of America’s greatest President’s. Franklin Roosevelt tried to establish a close relationship with the American people. Roosevelt talked to the American people by radio to explain what actions were being taken and what he planned for the future; these radio broadcasts helped him gain widespread support for his programs. Suzanne Bilyeu iterates frequently in her report that Under Roosevelt the American federal government assumed new and powerful roles in the nation’s economy, in its corporate life and in the health, welfare and well-being of its citizens. The legislation he pushed through congress as part of his New Deal not only helped ease the Depression, it also formed the underpinnings of the modern welfare state. Bilyeu credits Roosevelt with rescuing capitalism and America’s way of life at a time when widespread economic misery made socialism and communism more appealing to many. Father Charles E Coughlin a radio priest from Detroit and critic of Roosevelt however, argues that he opened the door to a government that was too big, too powerful and too costly for taxpayers. The Great Man Theory that a powerful figure is only as commendable as the circumstances that surround him and the person that he is are precise of Franklin Roosevelt. He has remained an influential presidential figure from his election into government up until present day due to his battle and triumph through the Great Depression and World War II, his strong and independent reform decisions, ingenious public awareness campaigns and widespread communication, development of peace organizations, economic and social rehabilitation and New Deal programs. As a person Franklin Roosevelt was a decisive and wilful man, dedicated to the success and well being of his nation, he acted swiftly against pressing matters and resolved them with the utmost diligence.