1. The Great Depression FDR & His Critics

2. At his inaugural address, Franklin Delano Roosevelt told the nation: “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

3. Roosevelt’s confidence and enthusiasm seemed to rub off on others.

4. Roosevelt gave the “forgotten man” the sense that the nation’s leaders understood what he was going through & were responding as best they could.

6. Roosevelt did not have a logical plan about how the economy would be fixed. His approach was “to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit frankly and try another.” Some people were critical of FDR’s hit or miss technique.

8. In 1939, the New Deal was six years old & had given relief to millions. America was still in the midst of the Depression. Some people wanted even stronger government efforts.

9. In 1940, FDR won a third term as President (before 2 term limit).

10. Roosevelt was now focused on the two terrifying military dictatorships: Germany & Japan

11. In 1941, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, the nation supported Roosevelt again.

13. On the home front, war production and the draft quickly put an end to unemployment in a way the New Deal never could. FDR had optimism as he led the nation to victory in the most terrible war in history.