Franklin Roosevelt

Definition

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is best known for leading the country during the Great Depression and World War II, implementing the New Deal to provide relief and recovery while also playing a crucial role in the Allied efforts against Axis powers during the war.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Franklin Roosevelt was elected to four terms as president, making him the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms before the 22nd Amendment was ratified.
2. His leadership during World War II helped to strengthen the United States' position as a global superpower and laid the groundwork for post-war international cooperation.
3. Roosevelt established key alliances with other Allied leaders, including Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, to strategize against Axis powers.
4. He was instrumental in creating the United Nations after the war, aiming to foster international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.
5. Roosevelt's presidency faced significant opposition from isolationists in the U.S., but he effectively rallied public support for entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Review Questions

• How did Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies shape American society during his presidency?
  • Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies were designed to provide relief, recovery, and reform in response to the Great Depression. They led to significant changes in American society by creating jobs through public works programs, establishing social safety nets like Social Security, and regulating the financial sector. These initiatives not only helped millions of Americans recover from economic hardship but also transformed the relationship between citizens and their government, fostering a sense of dependency on federal programs.
• Evaluate Franklin Roosevelt's foreign policy decisions during World War II and their impact on international relations.
  • Franklin Roosevelt's foreign policy during World War II was characterized by a shift from isolationism to active involvement in global affairs. His support of the Lend-Lease Act allowed for substantial military assistance to Allies, which strengthened ties with countries like Britain and China. Roosevelt’s diplomatic efforts culminated in important conferences with Allied leaders, shaping post-war policies that led to the establishment of institutions such as the United Nations. This shift not only altered U.S. relations with other nations but also positioned America as a central player in global politics.
• Analyze how Franklin Roosevelt's vision for a post-war world through his Four Freedoms influenced subsequent international policies.
  • Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms articulated a vision for a post-war world based on fundamental human rights and freedoms. This framework influenced international policies by emphasizing economic security and human dignity as essential components of global peace. The principles behind these freedoms laid the groundwork for later developments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various international treaties aimed at promoting social justice. Roosevelt’s focus on freedom from want and fear shaped not only American domestic policy but also encouraged other nations to consider welfare state models and human rights in their governance.

Related terms

New Deal:

A series of programs and reforms implemented by Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at providing relief for the unemployed and recovering the economy.

Lend-Lease Act: A policy established by Roosevelt that allowed the U.S. to supply military aid to foreign nations during World War II, significantly aiding Allied forces.

Four Freedoms: A set of principles articulated by Roosevelt, including freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear, that outlined his vision for a better world post-war.