28. Fear, Action, and the New Deal

In this episode of APUSH for ALL, we explore how the optimism of the 1920s collapsed into the Great Depression and forced Americans to reconsider the role of government. The stock market crash exposed deeper problems—overproduction, speculation, weak banks, and global instability—leading to mass unemployment and widespread hardship. Herbert Hoover responded cautiously, relying on voluntary cooperation and limited federal intervention, which many Americans felt was inadequate. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s election marked a turning point, introducing the New Deal’s approach of relief, recovery, and reform. Through programs, regulation, and political experimentation, the federal government expanded its role as the nation struggled to stabilize democracy and rebuild economic security.