[kiwiexpat]

Damian 5: The Roaring Twenties' economy was unsustainable (hence the Crash of 29) and was punctuated by severe recessions. More importantly, many and perhaps most Americans did not benefit from it - the old, children in poor families, the working class. From what I've read, things improved gradually under FDR, the economy got better until 1938, when it tumbled; it really took off after 1941 due to war spending. Nevertheless, the lives of most unemployed really improved under FDR due to the WPA and CCC; Social Security stopped the impoverished elderly from starving; the 40 hour week was introduced; the TVA was introduced; the Coulee Dam was built, etc, etc. The lives of average Americans were transformed for the better under FDR and it is no wonder that the majority viewed him as "Gods Gift to the USA." FDR made mistakes, some serious (packing the Supreme Court for example), but historians rightly call him one of the three great presidents. (Washington, Lincoln and FDR)