Despite his use of the phrase “New Deal” during the Democratic Party nominating convention in 1932, on what did FDR’s actual campaign for the presidency that year mostly focus?
The 1932 Election overwhelmingly focused on addressing the Great Depression. Hoover had become increasingly unpopular as the economic depression grew worse, especially after he called out the Army to disperse of WWI veterans (the Bonus Army) protesting for their bonus payments in front of the White House. By the time Hoover attempted to acknowledge the severity of the Depression and help those in need, it was too late. Most Americans were fed up with Hoover.
After receiving the Democratic nomination to run for president, FDR gave his famous acceptance speech in which he promised a "new deal." However, throughout his campaign, FDR never explicitly explained what exactly his new deal would be. FDR and the Democrats also ran on a campaign of ending prohibition, promising to put an end to the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol and had proved to be a failure. The Depression, however, remained the predominant issue. FDR called for a more expansive government role in the economy to combat the Depression, but again, he never clearly outlined what this role might be. Instead, FDR more generally promised unemployment assistance, old-age insurance under state laws, legislation to protect labor, assistance for farmers, development of power plants, a repeal of Prohibition, and a balanced budget. With Hoover's unpopularity and FDR's promises to act, FDR overwhelmingly won the 1932 election and began his experimental programs and policies that would come to be called the New Deal.
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