How did Roosevelt’s philosophy toward solving the problems of the Great Depression impact social programs we have today?

Franklin D. Roosevelt had a very different philosophy regarding the government’s involvement in trying to deal with the Great Depression. Unlike President Hoover who believed the government should have little to no involvement in dealing with the crisis, President Roosevelt believed the government should be actively involved in trying to deal with the impact of the Great Depression.

This philosophy changed how many Americans viewed the role of government during times of great distress. President Roosevelt launched a series of programs to get people back to work. Some of his programs also tried to bring about reforms to prevent future depressions from occurring. President Roosevelt’s programs were designed to lead us on the road to recovery. Because the government was so involved in the Great Depression, people began to view the government as a safety net during times of serious trouble. No longer could the government sit back and tell the American people to wait until a depression or some serious situation ended. People expected the government to be involved when things were really bad.

Some of our social programs today reflect this philosophy. The Social Security program developed by President Roosevelt is a good example. Many elderly people rely on the income they receive each month from Social Security. The Medicare and Medicaid programs are other examples of social programs on which many people rely today for medical care. Ending or modifying these programs could have catastrophic consequences for millions of Americans. When we were in the Great Recession of 2008-2009, some Americans expected the government to act. The government bailed out some American companies that were going bankrupt, especially those in the automobile industry. People also rely on the federal government when natural disasters strike. If the government doesn’t handle a natural disaster properly, as with the handling of the effects of Hurricane Katrina, it can lead to serious issues for the sitting President.

President Roosevelt’s philosophy on how the government should respond to a crisis has had a lasting impact on how our government operates today and the social programs that we currently have.