A Concise History of the New Deal

Cambridge Essential Histories

by Jason Scott Smith

During the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal carried out a program of dramatic reform to counter the unprecedented failures of the market economy exposed by the Great Depression. Contrary to the views of today's conservative critics, this book argues that New Dealers were not “anticapitalist” in the ways in which they approached the problems confronting society. Rather, they were reformers who were deeply interested in fixing the problems of capitalism, if at times unsure of the best tools to use for the job. In undertaking their reforms, the New Dealers profoundly changed the United States in ways that still resonate today. Lively and engaging, this narrative history focuses on the impact of political and economic change on social and cultural relations.

Genres: History, Politics, American History, Nonfiction

226 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2014

About the author

An award-winning author and teacher, Jason Scott Smith is associate professor of history at the University of New Mexico.

Reviews

[Summer Seeds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not horrible for a class text. The author is obviously a big fan of FDR and rather blatantly bashes Hoover and other conservatives of the time, which is actually kind of irritating since history texts should at least take on the appearance of objectivity, but it was an easy read and covers most if not all the most important aspects of the New Deal. Coming from a history student who hates 20th Century reform, the fact I gave it four stars actually speaks volumes.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really rather enjoyed this book. I thought Smith did a wonderful job laying out the history and political upheaval happening around the Roosevelt era and his New Deal in a rather concise but thorough way.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is factual, fair, and readable. I learned a lot. Those who accuse this book of having a "liberal bias" are just admitting that, often times, reality has a liberal bias.

[Lem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Argumentatively, there are many shortcomings within this book. At points many of the arguments seem forgotten about, only to be brought about in ways that seem more like reminders of what the argument was, rather than necessary connections between the argument and the information. While not very focused at times argumentatively, however, this book contains a wealth of information regarding the circumstances, people, results, programs, and more regarding the New Deal. The book however does at times provide rather biased accounts of these people and positions (being especially harsh towards Hoover towards the end, though listing his achievements in the beginning) and often turns into more of an opinion piece than an argumentative piece (though again that’s a knock on the general argumentative flow, which at times can be lacking). Great as an informative piece, though it would be much better if that’s what it stuck to, or at least if the arguments made were better incorporated into and built upon the information provided.

While all of this may cast a negative light on the book, if you are purely reading it for the informative aspects, you will not be disappointed. As I’ve before mentioned, there is much for you in that way.