Hope Restored
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Overview
In the suffering and poverty of the Great Depression, American morale received a shock as powerful as the economic collapse. Many Americans who had nurtured a deep faith in democracy, hard work, and a free economy suddenly found themselves questioning their system. Others feared that in combating the depression, democracy might give way to the totalitarianism of the left or right.In Hope Restored, Bernard Sternsher has assembled fourteen writings by historians which show how, even though the New Deal's initiatives did not always work, Franklin Roosevelt's program was a psychological and political success. It restored hope to communities across a battered nation. Mr. Sternsher's focus is not on Washington, D.C., but on what was happening at the local level across a vast and diverse nation--how people responded in Providence and Atlanta, Minneapolis and Hermosa Beach, Tampa and Pocatello. These local "snapshots" provide a much different composite portrait of the nation than an exclusively "top-down" view. They reveal the influence of local politics on the success of New Deal measures; the often surprising relations between various levels of governmental administration; the disregard for matters of ideology; and the varieties of experience under the New Deal.
Synopsis
Fourteen writings by historians that show how, even though the New Deal's initiatives did not always work, FDR's program was a psychological and political success because it restored hope to a nation battered by the Great Depression. Mr. Sternsher's focus is not on Washington, D.C., but on what was happening at the local level across a vast and diverse nation.
The Annals of Iowa
"These local histories add depth and nuance to evaluations of the New Deal."
Editorials
Rapport
"This is an excellent book...well worth reading."The Annals of Iowa
"These local histories add depth and nuance to evaluations of the New Deal."The Midwest Book Review
"There have been other surveys of American "New Deal" history, but Hope Restored...gives greater insight."—
Library Journal
Editor Sternsher (history, emeritus, Bowling Green State Univ.) has collected 14 articles from local, state, and regional historical journals designed to illuminate the implementation and impact of New Deal programs at the local level. The articles examine Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal from the perspective of different localities ranging from rural farming communities to large metropolitan areas. As is perhaps to be expected in a collection this diverse, the quality of the selections varies considerably. Among the more thought-provoking are Garry Boulard's study of Key West, Roger Biles's essay on Memphis, and Jarold Simmons's discussion of Dawson County, NE. The addition of a concluding comparative analysis of the articles and localities would have improved the book considerably. Nonetheless, this will provide undergraduate history students with an appreciation of the range of reactions to the vast array of new federal programs created in the 1930s.--Thomas H. Ferrell, Univ. of Southwestern Louisiana, LafayetteCHOICE
An excellent book.— P. D. Travis
Choice
An excellent book.— P. D. Travis, Texas Women's University