Background of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

1. R O O S E V E L T TA K E S
O F F IC E
CH.18 SEC.1

2. EARLY
L IF E
*Born in 1882
* Grew up in Hyde Park, NY
(Next to the Hudson River)
* Loved outdoor activities;
began his commitment to
conservation
* Went to Harvard for college &
Columbia for law school

3. E a r ly
P o lit ic a l
C a re e r
*Became a NY Senator in 1910
* Became asst. secretary of the
Navy during WWI
*Ran for V.P. for the democrats in
1920 (lost)
* Came down with polio in 1921,
refused to leave politics & vowed
to beat his disease

4. G o ve rno
r of New
Yo r k
* Ran for governor & won in 1928
* Cut taxes for farmers & reduced
prices on public utilities
* When the Depression hit, FDR
set up a state relief fund to help
the unemployed
* His use of govt power to help
others impressed many throughout
the country

5. P r e s id e n
t ia l R u n
* Ran on the Democrat ticket
against Herbert Hoover in 1932
*Stepped into a mess of a
situation:
•Most of the banks in the
U.S. were closed
•1 in 4 Americans
unemployed
•Economy was at a

6. FDR’ s
R e s o lv e
Knew he had to restore the
nation’s confidence
Delivered an inaugural address
that declared:
“...the only thing we have to
fear is fear itself...”
“This nation asks for action,
and action now!”

7. F r a n k lin
&
E le a n o r
*Met in school at Harvard
* Were distantly related (cousin’s
niece)
* While sick with polio, Eleanor
went & delivered FDR’s speeches
at the NY Senate
* Grew apart as time went on,
lived in separate residences
eventually

8. FDR &
P o lio
* FDR became a lifelong
supporter of finding a cure for
polio
* Organized the “March of
Dimes” which raised money for
polio research
* A cure was found after FDR’s
death
* His face is now immortalized