Liberalism (FDR/New Deal)

Dima Hanania
Political Science 250
Leo Brux
October 20, 2009

Liberalism is the belief in the emphasis of individual freedom. Surfacing in the 18^th century, during the Age of Enlightenment, modern liberalism refuses many foundational assumptions that dominated earlier themes of government. This includes the Divine Right of Kings – meaning that kings claimed their authority was given to them by God and was therefore considered, unquestionable – hereditary status within monarchies and established religion. John Locke is often credited with the philosophical foundations of modern liberalism, claiming: “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.” Liberalism strives for individual emancipation, separation of church and state, equal rights, and the providing, by the government, of social services such as health care, education and social security.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty second president of the United States and only president to have been elected for four terms, organized the New Deal in 1933 to bring America out of the Great Depression. The New Deal aimed to fulfill what came to be known as “the three Rs” – relief to the unemployed through economic programs designed to bring about jobs, the reform of financial and business practices, which lead into the recovery of the economy. The speedy expansion and encouragement of these government social programs during Roosevelt’s presidency redefined the role of the government in the United States, and was influential in redefining liberalism by restoring confidence and opportunity in the American people.

While liberalism endeavors to instill individual freedom, fascism strives to centralize power and authority under a dictator through inflexible socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror, aggressive nationalism and racism. Fascist dictators tire endlessly against delegation of authority to other people or entities, while liberals emphasize individual self-determination and equality. The progress of liberalism and industry has affected the distribution of wealth, at least in part, from the traditional nobility to private hands, thus creating new private interest groups with the ability to operate as political entrepreneurs. This distribution of power among private entities, in itself, offers a very significant difference to the principle of fascism.