1 EXPLAINING ACTIONS FOR FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT – NEW DEAL Presidential prerogative authority has been vital to crisis leadership throughout history. Prerogative power, the ability of a leader to act decisively under unusual situations, has been seen in many administrations. Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency during the Great Depression stands out. Roosevelt's inventive New Deal to solve the economic crisis exemplifies prerogative authority. The essay discusses the New Deal's historical context, Roosevelt's actions, and how they demonstrated prerogative power. Historical Background The 1929 stock market disaster spread across the American economy, causing unemployment, company failures, and widespread misery. The inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt into office in 1933 occurred against a backdrop of unparalleled joblessness and destitution1. With an acute awareness of the gravity and volatility of the situation, Roosevelt undertook decisive and perilous steps, harnessing his prerogative authority to instigate an array of groundbreaking initiatives and policies, thereby etching an indelible mark on the tapestry of American chronicles and charting the trajectory for the New Deal. The Swift and Decisive Actions A conspicuous hallmark of Roosevelt's wielding of prerogative power lay in the swiftness and audacity characterizing the implementation of the New Deal. Through an intricate fusion of executive edicts, legislative mandates, and the establishment of novel agencies, Roosevelt effectively magnified the authority of the presidency, orchestrating a confrontation with the multifaceted dilemmas of the period. 1 Losapio, Joshua. "American Atlantis." Oracle: The History Journal of Boston College 4, no. 1 (2023): 2 1. Creation of Employment-Generating Programs Establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps, Roosevelt set into motion a strategy aimed at furnishing gainful employment to the youthful contingent through the medium of conservation ventures. The effort created the groundwork for environmental preservation, not only unemployment. Roosevelt used prerogative authority to authorize massive public infrastructure projects while promoting employment creation and economic revitalization via the Public Works Administration. 2. Establishment of Social Safety Nets Roosevelt's prerogative peaked with the 1935 Social Security Act. This landmark law established unemployment insurance and pensions for the elderly, protecting vulnerable groups. Roosevelt demonstrated his opinion that extraordinary circumstances required quick action by avoiding parliamentary channels. The legislative edict highlighted the president's right to influence social welfare in unprecedented challenges. 3. Expanding the Role of Government Roosevelt's exercise of prerogative power extended beyond the purview of the executive branch, infiltrating the realm of augmented governmental participation in economic regulation. Evident in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, he intended to oversee the securities industry and rekindle public trust in the financial markets2. The maneuvers bore pivotal significance in the reconfiguration of the interplay between government and the economic edifice, ultimately forging the trajectory of the post-Depression American narrative. 2 Kenton, Will. “What Is the Securities Exchange Act of 1934? Reach and History.” Investopedia, May 8, 2023. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/seact1934.asp#:~:text=The%20Securities%20Exchange%20Act%20of%2019 34%20regulates%20secondary%20financial%20markets,to%20current%20and%20potential%20shareholders. 3 Criticism and Legacy Roosevelt's prerogative power was praised for its crisis response, but it was not without debate. Critics fiercely argued that his expanded executive dominance violated constitutional power limits. Roosevelt's insistence that unusual circumstances required decisive action, beyond traditional government, dispelled worries about presidential overextension. In conclusion, the New Deal gave Franklin D. Roosevelt primacy during a historic disaster. The Great Depression prompted Roosevelt to address economic and social challenges. Roosevelt used prerogative authority to rebuild society through job programs, social safety nets, and government regulation. The New Deal highlights the power of brave leadership in times of need, notwithstanding presidential authority debates. History reveals that prerogative authority may determine national recovery and progress. 4 Bibliography Kenton, Will. “What Is the Securities Exchange Act of 1934? Reach and History.” Investopedia, May 8, 2023. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/seact1934.asp#:~:text=The%20Securities%20Exc hange%20Act%20of%201934%20regulates%20secondary%20financial%20markets,to% 20current%20and%20potential%20shareholders. Losapio, Joshua. "American Atlantis." Oracle: The History Journal of Boston College 4, no. 1 (2023): Peters, Steven Tyler. "A communion with tools: the Civilian Conservation Corps, citizenship, skill development, and the Green New Deal." PhD diss., Montana State UniversityBozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2021.
