Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945. A Democrat, he led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II.
Roosevelt reshaped the federal government's role in the economy through the New Deal, creating programs and institutions such as Social Security, the FDIC, and large-scale public works to relieve unemployment and stabilize finance.
He also guided the United States through World War II, overseeing mobilization, Lend-Lease, and Allied cooperation; his four-term presidency expanded the scope and influence of the executive branch and left a lasting global and domestic legacy, though some initiatives, like the 1937 court-packing plan, provoked controversy.
Implemented New Deal reforms including the Social Security Act; Stabilized banking and created the FDIC and SEC; Established large public works programs (WPA, CCC, TVA); Backed Lend-Lease and led U.S. mobilization in World War II; Elected to four terms, reshaping presidential precedent; Proposed 1937 Supreme Court reorganization (court-packing)
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act on June 12, 1934, giving the president authority to negotiate bilateral tariff reductions with trading partners.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on June 6, establishing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The U.S. Supreme Court, in Home Building & Loan Association v. Blaisdell, upheld a Minnesota law that temporarily stayed mortgage foreclosures during an economic emergency.
On May 23, 1934, Texas and Louisiana lawmen ambushed and killed outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow near Bienville Parish, ending their multi‑state crime spree.
Workers at the Electric Auto-Lite plant in Toledo walked off the job on May 23, 1934, touching off mass picketing and violent clashes that required intervention by local police and, shortly after, the Ohio National Guard.
Teamsters local truck drivers in Minneapolis initiated a citywide strike on May 15, 1934, seeking union recognition, better wages, and closed-shop agreements.
On May 9, 1934, longshore workers along the U.S. West Coast walked off the job in a coordinated strike that shut down major Pacific ports from San Diego to Seattle.
The Civil Works Administration (CWA), a temporary New Deal public-works relief program launched in November 1933, ended operations as federal funding expired on March 31, 1934.
On March 24, 1934, Congress approved the Philippine Independence Act (Tydings–McDuffie Act), which set a 10-year transition period toward full Philippine independence and established the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Roosevelt signed the Gold Reserve Act, transferring U.S. gold holdings to the Treasury, authorizing revaluation of gold, and restricting private ownership of gold bullion.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his annual message to Congress outlining New Deal priorities for relief, recovery, and regulatory reform for 1934.
On December 5, 1933 Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment, giving it the three-fourths majority required to repeal the 18th Amendment and end national Prohibition.