During the 1930s to the early 1970s, the United States government discussed highly controversial liberal policies. When Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the thirty-second president of the United States in 1933, democratic polices began flourishing through the government. Before his presidency, the nation was in the depths of the greatest economic disaster to strike the country, the Great Depression. As the people elected its new leader, they questioned: Will Roosevelt install faith in our system again? Will he provide recovery? Throughout his creations of the New Deal, improvements of communication with the people through his fireside chats, and boundless energy, Roosevelt provided the United States the answer to their questions. With his hope and determination to restore the nation, he sought a new government. Along the way, Roosevelt established a legacy that remains the most controversial of all American Presidencies. Through his persistent advocating for a strong federal government to restore the country, many opposed it, while others supported it. Through President Roosevelt's' effort to combat the war on poverty and despair of the Great Depression, he secured economic security and achieved racial equality. This emphasized the strength of national power, which was demonstrated through the actions of the Supreme Court.
Throughout American history the busiest legislative session was during Roosevelt’s first hundred days, which helped restore the nations faith. Roosevelt’s accomplishments through his first months in office were referred to as the New Deal, and were opposed by many while others believed that it did achieve high success. Those who were against the deal feared that he had the potential of becoming a dictator. They believed that he was instilling too much responsibility the federal government, which would eventually going to take freedom away from Americans. The many people that did approve of the planned society believed that Roosevelt was providing relief for Americans and step by step improving the nation from the Great Depression. Although the Great Depression did not disappear after Roosevelt's first New Deal, he did help restore the nation by providing relief, recovery, and reform, and continued the programs. Along with the recovery and relief strategies to increase job employment, Roosevelt also focused on financial reforms.
Due to the rapid decline in production and farming in America, Roosevelt enacted the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1942. Roosevelt strongly believed that if America’s farmers were working again, it would become a crucial turning point in ending the depression. He knew that farmers provided food and trade to America, which would help boost the economy. The lack of building and expanding was something Roosevelt wanted to establish again throughout these bills.
Within his first hundred days in office, Roosevelt proposed an economic reform, calling it the New Deal. The goal of the program was to bring recovery to business and agriculture, relief to the unemployed, and to those in danger of losing their farms or homes. The New Deal posed many cases regarding the federal power of the government. During Roosevelt’s second term, the Supreme Court battled over the constitutionality of this policy.
The Supreme Court Case of Wickard v. Filburn in 1942, marked the last landmark case of the New Deal regarding the interpretation of the commerce clause. The New Deal’s legislation of the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1942 paved the power of federalism. It enforced that the national government had complete control over the states regarding interstate commerce. Justice Jackson listed other cases regarding the commerce clause and delivered in his opinion how the court had previously recognized the relevance of the economic effects. He noted that the legality of commerce has always been measured economically, increasing the national governments desire to hold control. The activity of production and consumption is noted to heavily influence the national market, therefore regulation of such matter including the prices of commodities became important. The decision of this case significantly shaped political policy that influenced the American economic system.