REFLECTION PAPER

Charmaine Rodgers

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As a historian of the 20th century United States the person who I can learn and apply
history of our ancestors to my own role in contributing and acting responsibly for the betterment
of society is Franklin D Roosevelt and his roles in the business and economies of the country
during the Great Depression. As I studied the history books within this class one man struck me
as a person that could teach us about how to perform and lead people in a positive direction in a
dire situation. He showed amazing effort and resolve dealing with issues like the bank crisis, the
dramatic drop in employment of the country and social security.
The first thing I learned from Franklin D. Roosevelt was too act quickly and directly
towards a problem and the people will follow like in the shaky world of banking during the Great
Depression. In 1929 we learn that many banks had to close because of the incredible occurrence
of withdraws and deposits. During this time all it took was for a rumor to start that a bank could
not properly hold the money of its clients. The rumor would cause many of the customer to stop
what there are doing to rush and withdraw their money from the bank. Bank failures was an
everyday occurrence. No one truly had faith in the banking system which made the system a
negative for the growth of the weaken economy. Roosevelt as soon as he was elected president
closed the banks immediately so the system could be secured. He signed into law the GlassSteagall banking Reform Act that secured deposits for the American and saved one of the
important factors in capitalism. The people followed his lead and returned their money to the
banks and the system was saved. In a reflective essay by William H. McNeill it states, Often it
is enough for experts to know about outsiders, if their advice is listened to. But democratic
citizenship and effective participation in the determination of public policy require citizens to
share a collective memory, organized into historical knowledge and belief. Otherwise, agreement

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on what ought to be done in a given situation is difficult to achieve. (McNeill)1 Roosevelt knew
he had to explain and get the confidence of the people as a group so he headed radio show that
explained everything that was going on. The American people were able to experience this as a
collective so it became more powerful to the people and public policy was easy to change with
the people sharing in the experience.
Another thing learned from Franklin D. Roosevelt was his decisions and movements to deal with
the unemployment rate of the country. During the great Depression the country was full of
people who had no job or income so they just roam the country looking for something to do. It is
say idle mind is the devils background. The people needed some type of goal or focus so the
country could change its mind state from depression and start back focusing on the American
Dream. For most of my life I have heard the argument between politics parties about how much
help the government should provide the people in need. Man say do not help them it is survival
of the fittest while others say it is the government responsibility to help its fellow man in need.
Roosevelt decided we needed to help the unemployed with things like the Civilian Conservation
Corps, Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. This is the perfect
example of being assertive instead of letting the chips far where they may. I believe it is a good
lesson because we can examine how history speaks of Roosevelt with greatness and admiration
against the president before him who had a chance to fix the problem but decided not to get
involved Herbert Hoover whom I cant recall anything about that was good. We look to the past
to understand the present, and so did they, we construct appeals regarding how things should be
based on how they have been. Such historical constructs are often selective, quite creative, in not
paying due attention to the full inaccessible complexity that is our past. History is drawn upon,
1 McNeill, William H. "Why Study History." American historical Association (1985). Website.

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and not even necessarily cynically, in a haphazard way which helps paint a picture of what any
particular philosopher or politician hopes the future to be like. (Hodges)2 In this statement we
find that because of the way we can look at history to learn the future many politician can look at
Roosevelt decision to deal with similar issues. I think this had influence on former President
George Bush in 2008 with Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 where the government tried to step in
and help the economy by sending rebates checks to individuals and couples.
Finally, the forward thinking of Roosevelt with dealing with the Social Security Act. The issue of
retirement and the problems many found was hurting the economy. Once a person was retirement
age many did not have the finances to retire so the pressure was put on the rest of the family
which hurt the economy overall. Roosevelt saw that this would only continue and get worst so a
solution had to be made. It was made that employees would have a percentage of their paycheck
put away until that person decided to retire. History is a lesson: a lesson of intentions,
movements, experiments, and human production; a lesson that builds integrity and character
within our children. (Postma)3 The history lesson here that is for our children is we need to start
thinking about retirement before it is time to retire. The future depends on the decision we make
in the present. Roosevelt saved many people this way and we as the children of Roosevelt can
learn from the forward thinking in many ways not just retirement.
In conclusion, the way Roosevelt dealt with the economy in such a difficult time of the great
depression has taught many lessons that deal with my role as American woman in todays
society. I thru the lessons of Roosevelt now that in order to overcome difficult times I must be
2 Hodges, Blair Dee. "On Rhetorical Uses of History to Understand the Present." Essay. 2012.
Internet.

3 Postma, Michael. "What Can history Teach us Today." ASCD Express (n.d.). Website.

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certain in my decisions and not wait for a solution. For the betterment of society what I do today
affects my life and the world for tomorrow. It calls to my mind the issue of the environment like
social security in order to have a better world I have to do things today that will better us for
tomorrow. Also, I know it is better to help people in need rather than watch and see if they can
make it on their own. I can use these lessons not only in my dealing to better society but also the
betterment of myself.

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References
Hodges, Blair Dee. "On Rhetorical Uses of History to Understand the Present." Essay.
2012. Internet.
McNeill, William H. "Why Study History." American historical Association (1985).
Website.
Postma, Michael. "What Can history Teach us Today." ASCD Express (n.d.). Website.