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The Great Depression
(1929-1945)

FDR's New Deal - Social Security

FDR's New Deal - Social Security
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 7 to 9
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.73

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    townsend, coughlin, policies, payroll, margin, legacy, dire, short-tempered, unemployment, better, finance, monthly, banned, federal, leadership, communism
     content words:    Franklin Roosevelt, Our Wealth, Senator Huey P., Father Charles E., Social Security Act, New Deal, Cosmetic Act, Civil Aeronautics Act, Civil Aeronautics Board

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FDR's New Deal - Social Security
By Toni Lee Robinson 		  
1     Franklin Roosevelt had won the elections of 1932 and 1936 by a wide margin. His party, the Democrats, also controlled Congress. All this added up to a powerful Presidency. You might have thought the President would have very few worries.
 
2     Roosevelt's popularity did help him. He was able to make big changes in the way government worked. Through his policies, government became much more involved in the lives of people. He moved America toward a more planned economy. By and large, Congress and the people approved of this new approach.
 
3     It couldn't be said, however, that Roosevelt had nothing to worry about. It was true that the voters had put their trust in him. But the Depression still seriously affected the nation. Millions of people in dire straits are a powerful force in themselves. They are apt to be short-tempered with leadership. They are also ready to jump at anything that promises to make things better.
 
4     In this time of crisis, several radical ideas popped up. Communism was gaining followers. It was easy for people in the depths of poverty to see the upper classes as the problem. "From each according to his ability and to each according to his need" sounded good. The Communist party won several elections during the 1930s.

Paragraphs 5 to 11:
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