Franklin D. Roosevelt is a defining figure and arguably one of the most important presidents in the history of the United States. He stepped up when America was facing its most difficult time and forever changed the role the federal government played in American society. His New Deal program revolutionized American politics and achieved considerable success even if it failed to completely heal the wounds left by the Great Depression. Under his leadership, the president's duties expanded to include the legislative branch (policy writing) in addition to the traditional executive branch. The internationally isolated United States became a champion of freedom and a global trading superpower. The classic laissez-faire domestic policy has been replaced by a competent and active welfare state. His project not only impacted America in the 1930s and 1940s, but also left a lasting legacy that was later extended by the likes of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. FDR, with his New Deal program, defined the era he presided over. The New Deal had a tremendous effect on the American economy before World War II and for several decades thereafter. In addition to the economic effects, it also had important political and social effects. A product of the Roosevelt era was the New Deal coalition, which kept Democrats in power for nearly half a century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, we'll start by examining the effectiveness of Roosevelt's policies in the short run. As soon as he took office, he closed the banks and promptly introduced the Emergency Bank Relief Act, which authorized federal money to support private banks that had failed due to the Depression. From the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719, it is clear that this piece of legislation had an immediate and lasting effect, as we can see that the number of bank failures dropped from 4000 thousand to less than 200 since the introduction of the bill, and from then it remained at those levels. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) was created to limit competition by maintaining a balance between the growth rate of prices and wages. Additionally, we have the introduction of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), a piece of legislation designed to help farmers most affected by the Depression. To raise agricultural prices, the government would subsidize farmers who agreed to limit production. Once again, from the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719, we could deduce that this piece of legislation also produced a positive result, as we can see an upward trend in agricultural prices since the introduction of the law. Additionally, we have the introduction of the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act as part of the Second New Deal. He saw billions of dollars of deficit spending spent on numerous construction projects in order to lower the unemployment rate. It also established several agencies such as the Resettlement Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration, and the National Youth Administration, all designed to help remote communities and young people looking for work. The largest program funded by the law was the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed millions of Americans in small-scale construction projects such as building public buildings, bridges, roads, parks, playgrounds, and more. We also have the creation of the Public Works Administration (PWA), which has raked in several billion dollars for massive construction projects like dams, airports, and railroads. From the graphs in Figure 25.1, page 719,it seems that this law succeeded in temporarily reducing unemployment. Additionally, we have the introduction of the revolutionary Social Security Act which created a federal system to provide for the social welfare of American citizens and its legacy continues today. It seems that the New Deal actually had a positive impact on the American economy, even if it did not completely solve the crisis. According to the text, “it changed the American West more than any other region, as dam building and other public works projects, sponsored by the federal government, reshaped the region's economy and environment. The new federal activism also expanded to Western populations. In recent decades, federal policy toward Native Americans, particularly those on West Indian reservations, has been disastrous. The Indian Reorganization Act did much to end the forced assimilation of Native peoples and return Indian lands to tribal ownership. It also gave federal recognition to tribal governments. The South was also affected by the New Deal. Through the Tennessee Valley Authority, the government promoted economic development, helped bring electricity to rural areas, restored fields worn out by overexploitation, and fought the curse of malaria.” , the New Deal's greatest and most influential achievement occurred in the political sphere; it launched an era of big government and constant government mixing in domestic affairs. Franklin D. Roosevelt forged a coalition that included progressives from both sides of the political spectrum, farmers, blue- and white-collar workers, intellectuals, labor unions, Southern whites, and minority groups (African Americans, Eastern Europeans, Jews); the coalition was called “The New Deal Coalition” and had an enormous influence on decision-making in America. It set the tone for most administrations that followed. We can see that the New Deal became a “political Bible” for people like Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson who used Roosevelt's blueprint as the cornerstone of their policy making. Beyond that, the new deal has also served as an inspiration for many Republican presidents. President Eisenhower stated that “it is almost impossible to reverse the policies of the New Deal without harming many Americans.” The New Deal coalition is the response to the nearly fifty-year dominance of the Democratic Party. Just as was stated in Duedney's article, “While it is obvious that Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson were the heirs of this New Deal, Eisenhower and Nixon actually have more in common with their Democratic contemporaries and FDR than with radical conservatives contemporaries. . . In the frenetic back-and-forth of American politics, it is easy to overlook the basic fact that, at least from Truman to Nixon, American politics was centrist and that the center was the New Deal order at home and abroad. mind: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In his 1944 State of the Union address, President Roosevelt offered Americans a “Second Bill of Rights: the right to employment, health care, education, food, and shelter.” This government's statement of commitment to the well-being of its citizens became a central element of postwar liberalism. After Roosevelt's death, Vice President Truman became president. He aimed to extend the policies of the New Deal while preserving the federal government's leading role in the providing welfare to its citizens and increasing the power of the government in regulating the economy. His national program was called: “The Fair Deal”..”