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Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often called FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States.

Froosevelt
Froosevelt

He served from 1933 until his death in 1945. This makes him the longest-serving president in American history. He was also the only president to serve more than two terms. Roosevelt was a member of the Democratic Party. His leadership shaped the country during two major crises. These were the Great Depression and World War II.

Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York.

Franklin-Roosevelt-1884
Franklin-Roosevelt-1884

He grew up in a wealthy family with the names Delano and Roosevelt. His father was James Roosevelt I, a prominent businessman. His mother was Sara Ann Delano, who was a major influence in his life. Roosevelt attended the Groton School in Massachusetts. He later graduated from Harvard University in 1903 with a degree in history. He also studied law at Columbia Law School before passing the bar exam.

Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1912
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1912

His early career involved several different roles in government. In 1910, he was elected to the New York State Senate. He became a leader for those who opposed the political machine known as Tammany Hall. From 1913 to 1920, he served as the assistant secretary of the Navy.

Franklin Roosevelt Secretary of the Navy 1913
Franklin Roosevelt Secretary of the Navy 1913

In 1921, a serious illness left his legs permanently paralyzed. Despite this challenge, he returned to politics with the support of his wife, Eleanor. He served as the 44th governor of New York from 1929 to 1932.

Roosevelt's presidency began during the Great Depression. This was a time of severe economic hardship for many Americans. To fight this, he launched a series of programs called the New Deal.

ElectoralCollege1932
ElectoralCollege1932

During his first 100 days, he introduced many new federal laws. He created the National Recovery Administration to help the economy recover. He also established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to protect bank deposits. Other major programs included the Securities and Exchange Commission and Social Security.

Signing Of The Social Security Act
Signing Of The Social Security Act

These programs provided relief to farmers and the unemployed. He also oversaw the end of Prohibition, which was the ban on alcohol.

Roosevelt was highly successful in his elections. He won a landslide victory in 1932. He was reelected in 1936, 1940, and 1944.

ElectoralCollege1936
ElectoralCollege1936

In 1937, he faced challenges when a conservative coalition blocked some of his reforms. He also tried to expand the Supreme Court but was unable to do so. His long tenure was possible because there were no presidential term limits until 1951. His presidency changed the relationship between the American people and their government.

In 1941, the United States entered World War II. This followed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7.

Ww2 allied axis 1942 jun
Ww2 allied axis 1942 jun

Roosevelt led the country against the Axis powers. These powers included Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. He worked closely with other national leaders to lead the Allies. Roosevelt supervised the mobilization of the American economy for the war. He also helped start the development of the first atomic bomb. Additionally, he worked to lay the groundwork for the United Nations.

While his leadership is often praised, some of his actions remain controversial. One major criticism is his order to intern Japanese Americans during the war. Despite this, historians often rank him among the three greatest American presidents. He died in office on April 12, 1945.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Gravesite August 21, 2012
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Gravesite August 21, 2012

His life and presidency left a lasting impact on global politics and social systems.

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🖼️ Images & Media (25)
File:Franklin-Roosevelt-1884.jpg
Franklin-Roosevelt-1884.jpg
File:Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt with Anna and baby James, formal portrait in Hyde Park, New York 1908.jpg
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor...
File:Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1912.jpg
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1912.jpg
File:Franklin Roosevelt Secretary of the Navy 1913.jpg
Franklin Roosevelt Secretary of the Navy 1913.jpg
File:Franklin D. Roosevelt and James Cox in Dayton, Ohio - NARA - 197236.jpg
Franklin D. Roosevelt and James Cox in...
File:FDR-Wheelchair-February-1941 (cropped).jpg
FDR-Wheelchair-February-1941 (cropped).jpg
File:F.D. Roosevelt & Nathan Straus LCCN2014717406.jpg
F.D. Roosevelt & Nathan Straus LCCN2014717406.jpg
File:Governor Roosevelt and Al Smith.jpg
Governor Roosevelt and Al Smith.jpg
File:Vincenzo Laviosa - Franklin D. Roosevelt - Google Art Project.jpg
Vincenzo Laviosa - Franklin D. Roosevelt...
File:ElectoralCollege1932.svg
ElectoralCollege1932.svg
FDR video montage.ogg
File:Signing Of The Social Security Act.jpg
Signing Of The Social Security Act.jpg

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