2. By Steven Mull Franklin Delano Roosevelt

3.   Early Life  Election  New Deal  Terms in Office  World War II  Death What you will learn about FDR Directions

4.   Read the following information and watch the accompanying video clips to learn of the life and presidency of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Once you have absorbed all of the information provide you will be ready to proceed to the quiz. Directions Main Menu

5.  1.ContentContent 2.DirectionsDirections 3.QuizQuiz 4.ExitExit Main Menu

6.  Franklin Roosevelt arrived in Hyde Park, New York, on January 30, 1882. Franklin’s birth was an arduous task for Sara. That coupled with the advanced age of her husband made Franklin their only child. For the rest of her life, Franklin would be Sara’s “darling boy”. She doted on him, encouraged all his many interests, and provided every opportunity for him to shine. His playtime with other children was limited for fear that he would contract some serious ailment. She wouldn’t allow his hair to be cut until it reached beyond his shoulders and she gave him his bath until he was seven years old. Education was done at the Roosevelt home by tutors. Annual trips to Europe were taken so that Franklin’s father, whose health was less than stellar, could avail himself of the healing powers believed to be beneficial in the warm waters at the resorts that wealthy people of the time enjoyed on the continent. Franklin became a world traveler and learned about other cultures at a very early age. He received instruction in German and French. Unknowingly, his parents were providing him with excellent experiences to prepare him for the presidency. His life followed a familiar and reliable pattern until the fall of 1896 when, at the age of fourteen, he was sent to Groton School. Groton was an Episcopal school founded by Endicott Peabody that provided an education combined with a Spartan life and strenous sports for boys from wealthy families. Peabody urged his pupils to enter political life and do something useful for the country. He had a profound effect on Franklin Roosevelt. Peabody stressed Christian duty and service to others. It was from him that FDR’s sense of public service began to blossom. Most of FDR’s classsmates had started at Groton at the age of twelve. By the time Franklin arrived at the age of fourteen their freindships had formed and FDR found adjusting to his new life difficult. Although he came to enjoy his time at Groton, he was never very popular with his classmates. Early Life Main Menu

7.   On Franklin Roosevelt's overwhelming victory in his 1930 reelection campaign for Governor set the stage for his bid for the Presidency. Roosevelt and his aids immediately began to maneuver behind the scenes to gain Roosevelt the Democratic presidential nomination. Louis Howe worked on the inside, while Jim Farely traveled the country attempting to garner support for Roosevelt. Franklin was the early favorite, but due to the Democratic convention rules that a candidate needed to receive 2/3 of the votes at the convention, a mere lead was not enough.  On March 15, Governor Roosevelt officially announced he was running for the Presidency. As the convention approached, Roosevelt clearly had the lead. His opponents included Al Smith, and John Garner of Texas. The key to securing a convention victory was winning the nomination on one of the first ballots. On June 30, the first votes were cast for the nomination. Roosevelt received 666 (1/2), Smith received 203 (3/4), and Garner received 90 (1/4.) It was an impressive showing for Roosevelt. However, FDR wast still 104 votes shy of the 2/3 needed to receive the nomination. Finally, on the fourth ballot, after Garner was offered the vice presidential candidacy, Roosevelt won the presidential nomination. The next day, in a break with tradition, Roosevelt flew to Chicago to accept the nomination.  Roosevelt engaged in a vigorous campaign, attacking the policies of the Hoover administration. The onset of the economic depression made the Republican position almost untenable. The Republicans had taken credit for the country’s economic prosperity. Now, it was hard to evade responsibility for the economic depression. Roosevelt's one area of weakness was the corruption of New York's Tammany political organization. Charges of corruption had been brought against New York City's Mayor, James Walker. Roosevelt personally conducted the hearing. FDR gained important support by virtue of his resourceful handling of this investigation.  The campaign took place against the background of the great economic depression. Roosevelt campaigned feverishly to prove that, despite his disability, he could vigorously undertake the position of United States President. At first, Hoover had planned to stay in the White House working during the crisis, but Roosevelt’s ads brought Hoover out on the campaign trail. Hoover tried to depict Roosevelt as an extremist who would bring the country to ruin. Hoover’s dour campaigning, compared to Roosevelt's more positive upbeat approach, worked against him. With 1/4 of work force unemployed, Roosevelt won an overwhelming victory. Election Main Menu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yeyc 1ogMiI

8.   The phrase "new deal" came into the English lexicon long before its mention at the 1932 Democratic convention that propelled Franklin D. Roosevelt to the White House. Mark Twain and Henry James both used it, but it was FDR who etched it into the history books. It wasn't intended to be so. A speechwriter penned the line, but neither he nor FDR thought it was particularly memorable. Nor did it refer to any specific set of remedies for the serious crisis in which the republic found itself.  America was in dire straits three years after the crash of 1929. The New York Stock Exchange had lost nearly 90 percent of its value. Thirteen million people were out of work, and an estimated 34 million Americans had no income whatsoever. People in Iowa and Minnesota armed themselves to prevent banks from foreclosing on their farms. And by the summer of 1932, some 25,000 World War I vets had descended on Washington, camping out near the steps of Congress and asking for money. When they were forced out of the city at bayonet point, revolution seemed very much in the air. No wonder Americans wanted a reshuffling of the cards they'd been dealt.  It mattered little to the public that Roosevelt had no idea what the New Deal would entail. "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people," Roosevelt told the convention during his acceptance speech. Once in office, Roosevelt pushed a litter of new programs into existence, each marked by an acronym synonymous with New Deal legislation: the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), the CWA (Civil Works Administration), and the WPA (Works Progress Administration), to name but a few.  But the New Deal's eventual impact went beyond staving off social upheaval, re-establishing trust in the currency, and putting people back to work. "It was the first time that Americans thought of their government as a solution to the problems that individuals and society at large were experiencing," says Jean Edward Smith, a political science professor at Marshall University and author of FDR. Roosevelt stopped pushing New Deal legislation by 1938, after the courts ruled some programs unconstitutional. The effect of the programs was mixed, with most economists agreeing that what really got the country moving was the military buildup of World War II. New Deal Main Menu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O55xQ4oZW4w

9.   In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination for the presidency with John Nance Garner as his Vice President. He ran against incumbent Herbert Hoover. The Great Depression was the backdrop for the campaign. Roosevelt gathered a Brain Trust to help him come up with effective public policy. He campaigned continuously and his apparent confidence made Hoover's meager campaign pale in comparison. In the end, Roosevelt carried 57% of the popular vote and 472 electors versus Hoover's 59.Herbert HooverGreat Depression  In 1936, Roosevelt easily won the nomination with Garner as his Vice President. He was opposed by progressive Republican Alf Landon whose platform argued that the New Deal was not good for America and relief efforts should be run by the states. Landon argued while campaigning that the New Deal programs were unconstitutional. Roosevelt campaigned on the programs' effectiveness. The NAACP supported Roosevelt who won an overwhelming victory with 523 electoral votes versus Landon's 8.  Roosevelt did not publicly ask for a third term but when his name was placed on the ballot, he was quickly renominated. The Republican nominee was Wendell Willkie who had been a Democrat but switched parties in protest to the Tennessee Valley Authority. War was raging in Europe. While FDR pledged to keep America out of war, Willkie was in favor of a draft and wanted to stop Hitler. He also focussed on FDR's right to a third term. Roosevelt won with 449 out of 531 electoral votes.  Roosevelt was quickly renominated to run for a fourth term. However, there was some question over his Vice President. FDR's health was declining and the Democrats wanted someone they were comfortable with to be president. Harry S Truman was eventually chosen. The Republicans chose Thomas Dewey to run. He used FDR's declining health and campaigned against waste during the New Deal. Roosevelt won by a slim margin getting 53% of the popular vote and winning 432 electoral votes versus 99 for Dewey.Harry S Truman Terms in Office Main Menu

10.   On June 6, 1944, the United States and its allies launched the greatest amphibious invasion in history on the shores of France. Over 150,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen stormed the beaches of Normandy beginning a campaign that would end with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945.  Franklin D. Roosevelt, as Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces during World War II, played an active and decisive role in determining strategy. In his ongoing discussions with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and with the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, he steadily promoted the invasion of the European continent to liberate it from Hitler’s Germany that finally began on D-Day.  On the night of June 6, 1944, President Roosevelt went on national radio to address the American people for the first time about the Normandy invasion. His speech took the form of a prayer.  D-Day Prayer D-Day Prayer  The date and timing of the Normandy invasion had been top secret. During a national radio broadcast on June 5 about the Allied liberation of Rome, President Roosevelt had made no mention of the Normandy operation, already underway at that time. When he spoke to the country on June 6, the President felt the need to explain his earlier silence. Shortly before he went on the air, he added several handwritten lines to the opening of his speech that addressed that point. They read: “Last night, when I spoke to you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.” World War II Main Menu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-weBUzQleo

11.   On his return to Washington Roosevelt spoke to a joint session of Congress to report on the Yalta summit. Roosevelt's doctors were worried about his health and recommended he cut back his schedule considerably, something he found hard to do. Finally on March 30th Roosevelt arrived in Warm Springs for a much needed rest.  In the afternoon of April 12th Roosevelt complained of a terrific headache, slumped over and died soon after. The longest Presidency in American History was over Death Main Menu

12.   Franklin Roosevelt was born where? Question 1 a.) Buffalo Buffalo b.) New York CityNew c.) BostonBoston d.) Hyde ParkHyde

13.   There was a movie made about Mr. Roosevelt with this city’s name in the title. Try Again

14.   Continue to the next question Continue to the next question Hooray, you are correct!

15.   Who did Roosevelt defeat in his first election? Question 2 a.) J. Edgar Hoover.) J. Edgar Hoover b.) Jimmy HoffaJimmy Hoffa c.) Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover d.) Wendell WilkeWendell Wilke

16.   This guy was looking for reelection, for he was the incumbent. Try Again

17.   Continue to the next question Continue to the next question Hooray, you are correct!

18.   Roosevelt implemented his “New Deal” to save the United States from what? Question 3 a.) ProhibitionProhibition b.) The Great DepressionThe Great Depression c.) World War IIWorld War II d.) Great BritainGreat Britain

19.   This was a time when America was at its poorest. Try Again

20.   Continue to the next question Continue to the next question Hooray, you are correct!

21.   How many times was Roosevelt elected? Question 4 a.) 00 b.) 22 c.) 11 d.) 44

22.   It was two more times than any other U.S. president ever. Try Again

23.   Continue to the next question Continue to the next question Hooray, you are correct!

24.   The invasion of France to help liberate the European countries from German occupancy was called what? Question 5 a.) D-DayD-Day b.) Tet OffensiveTet Offensive c.) Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party d.) Wounded KneeWounded Knee

25.   This is a military term used when the time and date of an invasion are secret. Try Again

26.   Continue to the next question Continue to the next question Hooray, you are correct!

27.  Who proceeded Roosevelt as U.S. President? Question 6 a.) Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover b.) Harry TrumanHarry Truman c.) Thomas EdisonThomas Edison d.) Franklin PierceFranklin Pierce

28.   He was also FDR’s vice president in his fourth term in office. Try Again

29.   Continue Continue Hooray, you are correct!

30.   Now you know about the birth and early life of Franklin Roosevelt. You know about the election of 1932, the first of Roosevelt’s four terms. You know of his “New Deal.” Roosevelt’s contributions to World War II. Lastly you learned of his passing. Summary Next

31.   http://www.historycentral.com/FDR/DEath.html http://www.historycentral.com/FDR/DEath.html  http://fdrlibrary.wordpress.com/tag/world-war-ii/ http://fdrlibrary.wordpress.com/tag/world-war-ii/  http://americanhistory.about.com/od/franklinroosevelt/p/pfdroosevelt.htm http://americanhistory.about.com/od/franklinroosevelt/p/pfdroosevelt.htm  http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/01/17/the-new-deal-sealed-the-deal http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/01/17/the-new-deal-sealed-the-deal  http://www.historycentral.com/elections/1932.html http://www.historycentral.com/elections/1932.html  http://www.aboutroosevelts.com/early-life/ http://www.aboutroosevelts.com/early-life/ Citations Next

32.   You now know more about Franklin Delano Roosevelt than when you started. Congratulations! Exit