how did Franklin D. Roosevelt gain power during presidency?

Answer 1

Well, He got lucky. He entered when the US was at one of its lowest points in history. The Great Depression had made America willing to do anything to get better. The gap between super rich and super poor was widening greatly. The poor were the majority, and because of that majority, they elected a man that promised to fix America, renew the American Dream. He started with his "100 Days" program that showed America he meant business. He shut down banks that were not meeting the needs they were promising to their customers. He created agencies to help people.

There are people that say he ruined America but creating more agencies, bureaucracy . However, the fact of the matter is that states were not doing their part. The big business was holding back their tax cuts and not reinvesting in the country. (the hope of Herbert Hoover, he gave massive business tax cuts hoping for reinvestment, a conservative ideology, that can work, however, did not in this case).

So in short, he promised Americans a return to the American Dream. A return to life before the Great Depression, and American eagerly and willing gave complete faith and control to Roosevelt.

Answer 2

FDR was and still is a greatly admired president. Although I am not personally a big fan of his, he typically ranks in the top three of presidential rankings by academics.

FDR was a popular president, elected four times, and strengthened the executive branch. There has long been a struggle for dominance between the executive and legislative branches. Lincoln was a strong president. During his administration, the executive was the dominant branch. After his assassination, the legislative branch regained the upper hand. With the exception of the presidencies of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, Congress remained the stronger of the two branches up until the New Deal. Under FDR, the executive reasserted its power over the legislature. Instead of being a force of opposition (such as were FDR's predecessors- e.g., Coolidge and Hoover), FDR was proactive, asserted his leadership and took the initiative. He helped create the modern presidency, oversaw a huge expansion of the federal bureaucracy and directed a massive war effort.

Not only was FDR tough on the Congress, he was equally contentious with the Supreme Court. During the early years of the New Deal, the court continually struck down measure after measure due to its unconstitutionality. To change the composition of the court, FDR offered a plan to appoint one new justice for each one over the age 70, up to a total membership of 15. As there were already 6 members of the court that met this condition, FDR would have been able to appoint 6 new members of his own choosing. Now, this plan was not popular and did not move forward; however, it persuaded members of the court to switch their votes ("A stitch in time saves nine") and support the constitutionality of the New Deal legislation.

Before Pearl Harbor, FDR unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the American people to become militarily involved in Europe, which was being overrun by Hitler. Unfortunately, the American people were isolationist at the time and opposition against U.S. participation was strong and widespread. Pearl Harbor changed that. Not only did we become involved in the war, but FDR helped make the country a major player on the world stage as we allied with Great Britain and Russia (the alliance with the Soviets is also of the huge criticisms against him). Unlike many of his predecessors, FDR was deeply involved in planning strategic and tactical positions of the U.S. He was dominant over the other branches and his cabinet in making U.S. foreign policy decisions.

FDR strongly asserted executive authority during his administration. Not only was he a strong wartime leader, and not only did he expand (for better or worse) the size and scope of the federal government, but he also spoke to and formed a bond with the American people with his radio fireside chats, during a period when many Americans were scared out of their minds with the economic depression. FDR also formed a New Deal coalition (consisting of urban workers, blacks, Jews, southern whites) which resulted in a political realignment (i.e., Democrats became the dominant party during the next few decades). Executive authority also expanded with his detention of Japanese-Americans during WWII. And, FDR served an unprecedented four terms as president.

Again, I'm not a big fan of FDR, but I tried to be unbiased in this brief analysis. I don't think there is any dispute that he was a strong president who greatly expanded the powers of the presidency. I hope this information helps.

Answer 3

I think it was because he made connections extremely well and had friends in the media. (they kept is paralysis a closely guarded secret) People did hate him has much as some loved him. He was largely credited for bringing America out of the depression. Reduced Gov waste, addressed civil rights (a big deal at that time for a Pres.), beat up on big business badly; But also is suspected for manipulating Pearl Harbor

Answer 4

So I know I'm three years late, but I just took a similar test with about 40 questions and got a 96% (missed one). All my questions, besides 9, are the same. All answers come straight out of my textbook and study notes. Eric C.'s answer are all correct (not sure about 9), except for these vvvvv Below is the correct answers. Hope this helps. 2) Why did blacks begin to expect more civil rights after World War II? (Points : 3) -- Blacks had gained confidence to compete in a white-dominated society. 4) How did state legislatures in the South react to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling? (Points : 3) -- They enacted laws and policies to BLOCK the INTEGRATION of public schools. 5) How did the Montgomery bus boycott help the African Americans' struggle for civil rights?(Points:3) -- The Supreme Court struck down Alabama's requirement of segregation on buses. 6) What pressured the Kennedy administration to add the power of the presidency to the civil rights struggle after the events in Birmingham, Alabama? (Points : 3) -- Congressional support for his legislative agenda 7) According to his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," what did Martin Luther King, Jr., believe? (Points:3) -- One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. (learned this one in english too) 11) Which was a major provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? (Points : 3) -- banned bias in hiring! NOT "Outlawed segregation in public education". < This was a provision of the Brown Ruling. 13) Which was one of the most important educational initiatives in Lyndon Johnson's Great Society? (Points : 3) -- Head Start. (This provided prekindergarten education to underprivileged children.) ___________________ You didn't ask about the rest of the civil rights test questions, but I'll still throw them out. 15) Which was one of the major provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965? (Points : 3) -- It removed obstacles to voting, such as literacy tests and poll taxes. 16) Which describes a result of the Voting Rights Act of 1965? (Points : 3) -- The South’s white majority switched to the Republican Party.

Answer 5

The people allowed FDR a lot of power because of the Great Depression and World War II. He created many government agencies like social security, TVA, etc.

Answer 6

He wasn't into "power." He handled the Japanese attack with a resounding declaration of war, and led the American people into organizing a massive worldwile campaign toward victory.

Many people don't know this, but he was actually a Democrat, in the days before the party became infested with scumbags and lowlifes.

Answer 7

Simply by being elected President in the first place - just like all other US Presidents from Washington onwards

Answer 8

His social programs proved to be very popular with the voters and publically was against the war in Europe while actually supporting going to war with Germany.

Answer 9

that's simple he was the working mans president. he was one of the rough riders he had been to war allot. he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. he was a hunter avid fisherman and explorer. i served on his aircraft carrier. learned alot about him.