Fabriana Pita
History 108
Professor Quinn
Primary Source Analysis Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural speech from March 4, 1933 addressed the issues that the United States were going through and declared war on The Great Depression. This famous speech was somewhat his chant for the public to fight this war with him. His presidency lasted 12 years, so when he started his presidency and gave his first inaugural speech he was letting Americans know that, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. The first inaugural speech arose during a crisis in America.Roosevelt to begin the speech stated, “I am certain that my fellow Americans expect of my induction into the presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our nation impels” Americans were terrified of a financial collapse in the nation and were expecting FDR to stand up there and give a solution to the American People. They wanted to hear any sort of solution to reassure them even if it meant it was not a true…show more content… To begin the Great depression started in 1929 following the stock market crash. According to History.com years following the stock market crash consumer spending and investment dropped, contributing to unemployment and declines in industrial output. The website also states that, “By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its nadir, some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half of the country’s banks had failed”. It continues on to discuss how, “Though the relief and reform measures put into place by President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped lessen the worst effects of the Great Depression in the 1930s, the economy would not fully turn around until after 1939, when World War II kicked American industry into high gear”. Another source from loc.gov discusses how the United States was in better economic condition than any other country in the world after World War