How Successful Was Franklin Roosevelt in Achieving His Domestic Policy Objectives During the 1930s?

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The domestic policies launched in the field of economic were helpful as well. Firstly, since most banks were in great crisis and easily failed to offer service to the public, the government launched Emergency Banking Relief Act and Bank Holiday-government program to make sure that the banks examined were stable and qualified to provide service and contribute to the economic stabilization. Secondly, the starter of the Great Depression-the stock market needed to be regulated and take protective measures to safeguard itself and prevent another stock market crash from happening. Thirdly, federal government was taking more charge of the business, a business government partnership was proposed by National Recovery Administration to protect the business away from another crisis. Next, labouring people’s rights were guaranteed by the Wagner Act to make sure that every labour had the right to join a union and unions could bargain with the capitalists. Last but not the least, the agricultural act was launched since the goods and crops unable to sell well, plenty farmers faced shortage of food and money, the Agricultural Adjustment Act guaranteed farmers’ incomes by offering money to people who agreed to cut the production of the crops and goods, in which way, the supply-demand relationship in US at that time could be improved. The acts launched in the fields of economic and agriculture were less productive than the acts launched in the social problems. Most of programs failed to offer enough solution to the core problem, the “consumer purchasing power”. Even some acts were voted down by congress and supreme court before they could be launched and made a difference. Some programs also went against the principles of business and the sprit of competition. All the problems caused by the Great Depression went under the negative policy called “price fixing”. Federal government tried to solve the crisis by encouraging the forced price fixing, which went against the principle of the free competitive market and capital environment. Some radical act like shortening the governmental expense was harmful to the whole economic environment, causing another recession and failed to protect the efficiency of the works of the federal government.

Above all, the domestic programs launched by FDR were not totally successful and even shot-termed. However, the fear caused by the Great Depression was so rare even in the whole history of mankind, only after FDR took office after 1932, his direct actions helped people to rebuild the confidence not only in their government but also in themselves that the crisis would past by if all of us worked together. The rebuilt relief of lives is so essential that only with this could FDR deploy the programs successfully. Compared to the last administration governed by Hoover, people of US started to feel represented again with the lead of FDR. With so many problems at hand, FDR feared nothing to launch active programs and try to solve the crisis. Some might say that the programs were not efficient and did not last long. However, it is clear that fewer presidents even no one could do a better job than FDR to unite the whole country again and bring the confidence back to the people of US.

The New Deal and domestic polices by FDR helped restore confidence to companies and people in US. While many European countries struggled in the extreme totalitarian political system as a response to the Great Depression, FDR, through his domestic policies, successfully helped to preserve the democratic tradition of America. As the leader of America, his characters also helped to achieve his domestic policy objectives during the 1930s. The Fire Chats invented by FDR was the symbol of his style communicating with the media and the public. The Fire Chats he gave did help inspire hope and sense of security for the public. The weekly press conferences at Oval Office helped him to create friendly relationships with reporters and media. Since the media is always the most efficient and direct way to establish a link with people and send messages of hope and faith to them. As many historians said, FDR is the best communicator as a president when Internet was not available. The hope and faith he brought to the public through his speeches in radio was so important and did help to assist the country to get over the Great Depression.

Realistically, the economy of the USA only fully recovered with the outbreak of World War II. With European industry and agriculture shattered by the conflict, American factories and farmers reaped the benefits. The need to raise a US army also solved the unemployment crisis. However, the domestic policies brought stabilization back to the country again even they failed to solve all the problems caused by the Great Depression. FDR also set a revolutionary role for all the presidents after. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, as long as we can make a move, after all, the worst response to crisis is doing nothing. As the most controversial man in the modern American history, debates about him never truly stop. Supporters of him claimed that FDR was the hero who saved the whole country out from the Great Depression and the defender of the domestic treasure and tradition of America. While many critics believed he despised the ability of the American free-market capitalism. Instead of make full use of the ability, he expanded the interference of the federal government into the market, trying to transfer the country into the welfare states like some European countries. However, it is widely accepted that though his works might get misunderstood, FDR, as a revolutionary president, is an excellent politician and leader, made great efforts to make the country united again, bring confidence back to citizens and gain long-lasting support for Democratic Party. As a gifted leader, he successfully reached agreement when a variety of opinions showed up. Even been disabled for a long time, whenever he showed up to public, he was always smiling. His tough and optimistic character encouraged millions of people to hold tight to their lives even in the most difficult times. It is crystal clear that his admired characters helped much to launch the domestic policies smoothly and successfully.

After all, the domestic policies launched in 1930s by FDR were a huge success. Although the effects did not last long and some argued the federal power had never been so huge, the policies helped the whole nation to get through the darkest period in modern American history. From this point, there is no doubt the domestic policies by FDR are productive and helpful. What we can learn from this period of history is that being a leader is not only about making decisions and orders, leading is uniting. Only if we can unite people together by having faith and hope no matter how