New Deal- Recovery Of America During The Great Depression

To what extent was the New Deal successful in the recovery of America during the Great Depression?

The aim of this investigation is to analyze the extent of the success of the New Deal during the Great Depression. In my investigation Robert F. Himmelberg’s piece entitled The Great Depression and the New Deal (2001) was a very useful source because it helped me to see the viewpoint of historians who believed that the New Deal was vital in the recovery of the Great Depression. Other helpful sources were political scentist Sean J. Savages’ essay on FDR’s New Deal and FDR Leadership and Legacy by William D. Pederson (1997) which helped me to get a better understanding of how the New Deal might have not been the reason for America’s recovery in the Great Depression.

Some historians believe that the New Deal was the main asset for the recovery of America while others historians think that it did not help. For instance some opponents of the New Deal included Herbert Hoover and later Ronald Reagan. Other people believe that the New Deal did help to relieve suffering but did not end the Great Depression. One argument that supports the New Deal is that it was needed because there had to be drastic changes instituted to rescue the economy. FDR needed to quickly start the programs to create jobs, give immediate relief to the poor, and stimulate the economy. On the other hand some people believed that the programs FDR put forth represented fascism in its far reaching control over business.

Some historians believe that the role of World War II during the Great Depression was a main reason for recovery because the unemployed got jobs and businesses boomed.

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