Fdr Dbq

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s second term began during an extremely tumultuous time in our nation’s history. With hundreds of thousands of Americans struggling to find work and to make ends meet, FDR was willing to attempt any measure that would safeguard his progressive New Deal programs. According to Merriam-Webster online, a dictator is: (a) a person granted absolute emergency power; (b) one holding complete autocratic control; or (c) one ruling absolutely and often oppressively. Critics were very quick to use the term “dictator” when referring to FDR’s actions during the late 30’s. FDR exerted dictator like force to make sure that his recovery acts would be preserved by attempting to pack the court, but checks and balances prevented him from ruling absolutely in the way a dictator does. During his first term, FDR was respected and even admired by Americans. In the midst of total economic chaos and job instability, FDR’s strong leadership and his First New…show more content…
However, his unbridled ambition to achieve his goals would soon turn US citizens against him. In 1935 and 1936, the Supreme Court ruled the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act unconstitutional. FDR knew that, if given the opportunity, the Supreme Court would continue to strike down his New Deal legislation. Norton writes that, “Citing the advanced age and heavy workload of the nine justices, he asked Congress for authority to appoint up to six new justices to the Supreme Court.” FDR was attempting to pack the court. FDR knew that none of his Second New Deal reforms would pass through the Supreme Court, because only three of the nine judges were in favor of his agenda. FDR used the justification that the elderly Supreme Court judges could not handle the intense workload, with the end objective of self-appointing six justices that would approve his
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