
Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. "This nation asks for action, and action now. Hundred Days FDR: The Inaugural Speech on March 4, 1933įDR made his views clear to Americans in his inaugural speech on Main which he stated: The overriding view of his first Hundred Days was to try something. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.įDR was clearly happy to push forward any ideas he thought had merit. "It is common sense to take a method and try it. Once again his own words made in an address at Oglethorpe University on conveys the man's character and ideals. Hundred Days FDR for kids: The Fearless ApproachįDR adopted to totally fearless approach to making decisions and trying new ideas. It was clear that the unemployed needed much more than the state and local communities could afford.

People were dependent on the local state or charitable organizations to survive. There was no federal government financed "safety net" of welfare or relief programs to keep Americans from falling into dire poverty. This was the desperate situation that greeted FDR when he assumed the presidency - he had to take drastic action in his first 100 days of office. The US Army, under Douglas MacArthur, used violent tactics to disband the veterans. They were called the Bonus Army and had lobbied Congress to pass legislation authorizing the early payment of promised bonuses. In the summer of 1932 over 40,000 WWI Veterans had congregated in Washington. Desperate men walked the streets and roamed the nation looking for work and food. The American people were looking for FDR, their new president, to take action.


In the first Hundred Days of FDR's presidency many new laws were passed including the Emergency Banking Relief Act, the Glass-Steagall Act, Agricultural Adjustment Act and the Securities Act of 1933. When FDR came to office over 12 million people were unemployed (25% of the population) and over 1 million were homeless.

The combination of the relief programs would later be collectively referred to as the First New Deal for Relief, Recovery and Reform.
Hundred days apush series#
In an incredibly short period of time, from March 9 and June 16, 1933, FDR initiated a series of major actions and reforms that were taken in an attempt to relieve the disastrous effects of the Great Depression. Summary and Definition: The first Hundred Days of FDR's presidency was extremely important to the new Democrat President and the nation. Definition and Summary of the Hundred Days FDR
