Week 4 Discussion Assignment – 30 points total

I. Original Message (15 pts) Post a brief (approx. 250 word) message addressing one of the following questions. Be sure to use information and examples from the textbook:

1. Is biography destiny? Based on Polenberg’s very short summary of Franklin Roosevelt’s background before becoming President, explain how FDR’s individual experience may have affected his approach to politics, government, or leadership. How might his individual history have shaped the New Deal or his perspective on the Great Depression? For example: his family background, health issues, his earlier political experience, etc. How well did his background foreshadow or predict what he would be like as President?

II. Response on other question (15 pts) In addition, post a short (4-6 sentence) response to someone else’s message about the OTHER question, the one you did not answer.

 Answer

His privileged upbringing, his mother’s hands-on parenting, and his physical ailments were all notable events and characteristics of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s personal history that could have influenced his approach to politics. The combination of Roosevelt’s privileged childhood and his mother’s parenting style created an environment of support, love, and affection for Roosevelt from a young age. I believe this influenced some of the values he held throughout his political career (such as those of family, community, and societal contributions for the benefit of society as a whole rather than an individual). For instance, in this week’s reading from The Era of Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1945 by Richard E….Click below to purchase the full answer at $5