S7 E6: Thirty Glorious Years
Scene on Radio
00:00
US Political Shift Post-Depression
- The Great Depression's severity pushed Americans to desire significant economic and political system changes.
- Some were inspired by the far left (Communist Party's peak popularity), while others leaned towards the far right (fascism's rise).
- Historians debate why the US shifted center-left instead of far-right, citing factors like the incumbent conservative government taking blame for the collapse.
- Roosevelt's 1932 landslide victory gave him a mandate for change, leading to programs like the CWA, WPA, CCC, NRA (National Recovery Admin.), farm subsidies, public works, banking regulations, and later additions to the safety net (Social Security and welfare) along with major new labor laws.
Transcript
Play full episode
