The First New Deal: 1932-1940

Franklin D. Roosevelt, representing ordinary citizens, promised a 'new deal' during the 1932 election against Herbert Hoover. He believed it was the government's duty to ensure a comfortable living for all. Despite international distractions, Roosevelt aimed to reconcile democracy, individual liberty, and economic planning, understanding that failure could lead to orthodoxy or revolution. He relied on advice from figures like Louis Brandeis, who criticized large corporations for their power and their role in the Depression. Brandeis advocated for breaking up these corporations instead of merely regulating them. This era marked the beginning of significant economic reforms.