全屏显示专题章节

Franklin Roosevelt was born in New York and shared with his distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt a conservative upper class background.He had been assistant secretary of the Navy under Wilson and the Democratic candidate for Vice President in 1920.Although Roosevelt had been crippled by polio in 1921，he had remained active in politics and had been elected Governor of New York in 1928and again in 1930.After he was elected President in 1932，he at once showed his determination to deal with the depression.The sum total of his measures to end the depression was called the New Deal.

The main aims of the New Deal were to raise commodity prices by limiting production，devaluing the dollar，maintaining high tariffs on foreign goods，and to carry through a modest inflation by providing money at low rates of interest to farmers and to industry.For farmers，the Agricultural Adjustment Act was passed in 1933，which enabled the government，among other things，to pay grants to farmers to induce them to reduce the amount of products，which included such commodities as cotton，wheat，corn，pigs，rice，tobacco，milk，sugar and others.

In industry Roosevelt，by the National Recovery Act of 1933，was given power to control working hours and working conditions，and to fix minimum wages.Furthermore，through the National Recovery Act a vast scheme of public works was begun and four million men were immediately set to work on projects of clearance and construction.This was later expanded to take in housing，slum clearance，reafforestation，flood control and soil erosion work.

At the same time a number of more fundamental reforms were enacted.The banking system was adjusted and the Securities and Exchange Commission was established（1934）to regulate the stock market.Under the Tennessee Valley Authority an extensive flood control，electric power，and general development program were put into operation.In 1935，the Social Security Act was signed by Roosevelt，which provided a system of pensions for the retired，unemployment insurance，and care for the dependent and disabled.By this Act the principle of government responsibility for the aged and jobless was permanently institutionalized.

By 1938，the New Deal was over with the expansion of the European crisis.Roosevelt had to switch his emphasis from domestic to foreign affairs.Nevertheless，the basic ideas behind the New Deal，that the federal government has the prime responsibility for the welfare of the people and must not be limited by narrow concepts of states’rights，that bold experimentation is the way to find solutions to new social problems，and that active presidential leadership of Congress and the people is vital in a world of growing complexity，have not been challenged strongly in the years since 1938.

1.tariff war：the use of tariffs to further the competitive position of country particularly in response to similar conduct by another country.

2.Archduke Franz Ferdinand：heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary.He and his wife were assassinated on June 28，1914，which became the fuse of the First World War.

Ⅰ.Choose the correct answer.

1.By the beginning of the 20th century the country that took the first place in economy in Europe was________.

A.Germany　　　B.France　　　C.Britain　　　D.Russia

2.When the First World War began，President Wilson immediately called upon the American people to________.

A.be ready for the war

B.observe strict neutrality

C.give finaneial help to the Allies

D.end the trade relations with Germany

3.The US joined the First World War in________.

A.1914　　　B.1915　　　C.1916　　　D.1917

4.Wilson’s Fourteen Points did not include the point of________.

B.creation of an international organization of nations

C.freedom of the seas，in peace and war

D.creation of an international peacekeeping force

5.Which statement about the US in 1920sis not true？

A.The gross national product rose.

B.Only the rich could afford new consumer goods.

C.The youth suspected the values of the older generation.

D.There was a fast urbanization in the whole country.

6.In responding to the Depression，President Hoover thought that the basic role of the Government was to________.

A.provide government aid for the poor

B.create conditions favorable to the development of private enterprises

C.intervene in the affairs of economy

D.take the responsibility for the welfare of the people

7.The agricultural Adjustment Act was an attempt to deal with the farmers’problem of________.

A.soil erosion　　　　 B.declining labor supply

C.inflation　　　　　　D.overproduction

8.Which one is not right to comment on the New Deal？

A.It relieved unemployment through a vast scheme of public works.

B.It offered relief to farmers through providing money at low rates of interest.

C.It brought in old age and unemployment insurance through providing a system of pension.

D.It reduced the commodity prices by limiting production and devaluing the dollar.

Ⅱ.Fill in the blanks.

1.The First World War was waged between two groups of imperialist powers：________and________.

2.The direct cause that made the US declare war on Germany in________ was the Germany’s ________campaign.

3.The major triumph for Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference was the formation of the________.

4.The United States didn’t join the League of Nations because the US________refused to approve the Treaty of________.

5.Three major treaties were concluded at the ________Conference：

（1）the Four-Power Treaty，respectingthe ________in the Pacific；

（2）the________Treaty，on naval arms________；

（3）the Nine-Power Treaty，guaranteeing the independence and integrityof________in appearance，but actually apublic international affirmation of the________policy.

6.The________Amendment to the US Constitution was adopted in________，which granted women the right to________.

7.The Great Depression started with the sudden collapse of the________in New York in October，________.This economic distress extended to Europe，Asia，Africa，Australia and South America.

Ⅲ.Questions for discussion.

1.What were the major causes of the First World War？

2.Why did the US join the Allies in the war？

3.What were the basic ideas of the New Deal？How do you comment on the New Deal？