The New Deal

In 1932 Hoover went to the people of the USA in an election battle with the Democrat leader, Franklin D Roosevelt. Hoover lost and in 1933 FDR began his New Deal. It was to be radical set of policies to get America from the depression it was in.

The cartoon above shows Roosevelt replacing Hoover. He is throwing out the unwanted policies of Hoover, who appears disinterested in the background.

There really could not have been greater differences between the two leaders. Hoover, was the man who talked of the need for 'rugged individualism'. He believed that government did best when it did least. Too much interference resulted in the stifling of initiative. However, Hoover took this need for people to stand on their own two feet a little too far. When First World war veterans walked on Washington asking for their promised bonus from the government Hoover sent them away with nothing. When they tried to set up camps in the capital they were attacked by the police and army.

The cartoon illustrates the cavalier approach of Roosevelt. He is portrayed as a cowboy rounding up the villain who in this case is the Supreme Court.

Roosevelt believed that it was time for government to help and get people back on their own two feet, rather then tell them it was their job.

The first 100 days of Roosevelt's rule was crucial. He stabalised the banks, got agencies to help the unemployed, farmers and the poor in place and then he ensured that people became confident in his policies through his fireside chats. In these radio broadcasts he explained what he wanted to do and why. He would discuss his own problems and even talk about his pet dog.

Roosevelt was clever enough to know that to keep his popularity and favour with the press regular  press conferences needed to be held.

He tried to make sure people saw him as a man of the people. Far from being aloof, Roosevelt, showed he was on the level of an average American.

There is much debate about Roosevelt's policies and how effective they were. Critics came from all sides. From within the Democrats there were people like Huey Long. He argued that Roosevelt was not going far enough. More private property had to be taken into state ownership according to Long. He also argued that Roosevelt had ignored the black population at the expense of white farmers.

Republicans on the other hand argued that Roosevelt was a socialist and wanted to destroy all that American society stood for. They claimed that when Roosevelt 'packed' the Supreme Court to get policies through against the Courts wishes the true Roosevelt was evident.

The cartoon here shows Roosevelt as a bossy individual who is trying to bully Congress into supporting him against the Supreme Court.