Discussion

Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) was elected to four terms as President. That is longer than any other President, serving 12 years before his death in 1945. He was President during two very difficult times in our history, the Great Depression and World War II. Read section 10,11,and12 of lesson 22 and lesson 23 and watch the video on the Great Depression. Watch "The Presidents" video sections on Hoover and Roosevelt. Try to get a feel for the frustrations that Hoover felt as the situation worsened and the challenges facing FDR as he began his first term. The links to those videos are under the assignment button of the course menu.

Once you have looked at that information I want you to play the explanation game. That is where you observe details and attempt to explain them in a way that helps you understand the total picture. In this case I want you to compare and contrast the respective approaches of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to the issues and problems of the Great Depression. This will require details on the New Deal, its successes and failures. You also need to show what Hoover did at the beginning of the depression and how it did or did not work. Try to explain the difference in the two men's political philosophy. As always you need to have an initial post and at least two responses. To focus the discussion you could question some of the actions of the Presidents but you do need to give some details in those questions.